Today marks seven wonderful years married to my wife. From our carefree days in the UNI college dorms, to our early married days living in a tiny shack in West Des Moines, to our current life in a tiny house in a tiny rural Iowa town, with two not-so-tiny boys running our every moment. Not every day has been easy, but I wouldn’t trade any of them for anyone else’s life.

There is a side to my wife that few in our circle of friends and family get to see. She is intelligent, beautiful, selfless, hilarious, adventurous, selfless, reckless, caring, considerate, and selfless. I am blessed every day that she remains by my side and constantly amazed at her resilience in the face of my unmistakable stupidity, shortsightedness, and selfishness.

To my wife, on this special day, I proclaim: I love you. More than I could ever clumsily convey.