Cheers!

Mark’s birthday is today. In his honor, I will do my best to thoroughly embarrass him.

Mark was the first born to his parents, and was dutifully raised as a hard-working farm boy. He is 6’3” tall, a full foot taller than me, and wears a size 13 shoe. He has never been in a fight…ever. At first, I was shocked upon hearing this, but then really, who in their right mind would even attempt to go up against him?

As the oldest child, he quickly took on the role of the “responsible one.” Although his mom and dad divorced, both were remarried, and he was given a sister and then a brother. Both still look up to him. This is amazing, considering he tortured his little brother, Josh, with stories of the “stick man” in the woods behind their house, and kicked a not-quite-frozen piece of cow poo at his sister’s head.

Mark took a masonry class in his high school and fell in love with the trade. He received a few awards for his skills and was offered a job before he even graduated, by a well-known area mason. He still loves his work today. In the past four years, he has taken one sick day, apart from his accident this year. The phrase “hard working” doesn’t do him justice.

Mark and I have been together for eight years, married for five. I’m happy to say that (most days) it doesn’t feel like that long. He’s the sane, level-headed, rational one. You all probably know that by now. He hated it when I was active as a firefighter, but supported me the entire time. He was uncomfortable with me rock climbing, but learned to accept that I loved it. Mark doesn’t try to change me, and I love him for that.

He is the most devoted father to our boys. He went to each and every prenatal visit with both of the kids. Mark would get up with the kids at night, even when he had work at 5 the next morning.

Some facts about Mark:
- My sister and I think he looks like a white Ice Cube (that is Ice Cube on the right, not Mark)
- His nickname is Dobber.
- He doesn’t have a middle name.
- Mark rarely remembers when my birthday is, but his brother, Josh, reminds him every year.
- Sometimes I call him Mierk. I don’t know why.
- Sometimes Dylan calls him Dobby.
- He has Carpal Tunnel in both wrists.
- He loves Christmas music-anytime of the year. It can transform his mood faster than a 6 pack
- Animals and children flock to him as they hide from me.
- He hates Sarah Jessica Parker without any logical reasons why.
- He grills vegetables better than anyone else I know.
- I almost lost him this year, and he has no idea how scared I still am.

Happy Birthday, Mierk.