My Everyday Valentine

I'm hoping that many of you are spending time with a valentine. Your valentine my be your husband, girlfriend or a blind date, but my valentine's are my lil men. I say this because my hubby is my everyday valentine.

I know I have mentioned this before, but my husband is like a new man in some aspects of life. In the last couple of years he has become an incredibly supportive, compassionate and strong protective man. I don't mean to give the impression that he didn't have these qualities before then, it's just that those qualities come first in his mind and in his life. He has often stated to me the following , " Before Sutton got sick I had considered myself a good person, and said so at times. I mean I wasn't mean to anyone, I'd help a buddy move and didn't make problems for people." This is a true statement. But then he goes on to say that his selfishness was under all of that and that he used that as a justification to be or do just enough to get by. When a close friend had a premature baby in the hospital for a couple months, he didn't do much about it. When someone passed away, he said the standard 'I'm sorry' but that was it. When someone was doing work at their house and probably needed help...his own activities came first.

But now? Well he's the guy I always see...but now everyone else does too. That close friend's child had to spend some time in the hospital this past fall and he was calling and texting several times a day. He was stopping by to bring coffee and just show up to show he cared - in a manly way of course. Our family lost some pretty amazing people this summer and Aaron was one of the first to give out hugs and ask if there was anything he could do. And instead of waiting for someone to ask for help - he offers and he means it.

He, like me, has made the choice to be a better version of himself. He knows how easy it is to say you are a good person, have a cavalier attitude towards life or not own your mistakes. But he chooses to be better. He genuinely wants good things for people and is willing to have the tough conversations in life.  I think it's because he knows that this is how you grow and strengthen relationships.  Before both of us just 'assumed' that we had strong relationships, but we've learned that being the better version and investing in our relationships is what makes them strong.

Something else that is amazing to me is his strength. I attribute some of this to his father, who I adore. Aaron has been an unbelievable source of strength for me and Cooper...and anyone else who might need it. I know that he never imagined being challenged the way he has in the last few years, but never has he buckled. He has met every challenge with courage and compassion and the boys and I are better because of it. This may be the greatest gift he could ever give us.

The best part is that he is setting an example and raising the bar for our lil men. 

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.

-Martin Luther King, Jr

I know when he or even some of his buddies read this they might gag a little, but it should be said. And I know that some of you are probably shaking your heads right now...but spend some time with this amazing man and you'll see.

And now to completely switch gears on you....

February 7-14 is Congenital Heart Defect Awareness week (http://tchin.org/aware).

1 in 100 babies are born with congenital heart disease, so there's a chance that Sutton may not be the only child's story you hear. Many, many children live wonderful, healthy lives in spite of any heart defect. So much so, you may not even know about what they have gone through or the challenges ahead. I bring this up because I just want to remind you all that at some point everyone has a struggle you may not be aware of. So as the saying goes, please leave people better than you found them!

 XOXOXO