Star of the Week Part IV

Today is the perfect day for me to introduce my man.  I can call him a man now because today he turns the big 3-0h! What an old geezer! (I can say this because I'm still twenty-something! hah!)

If you've been reading this blog for awhile, you are probably pretty familiar with this week's Star of the Week, my boyfriend, Ryan. No need to provide you with links.  I'm pretty sure he's mentioned almost daily. (I'm seriously about to take the labels off of the right hand side of my blog because Ryan gleefully reminds me daily that he's number one on the list. Someone is getting a big ol head.)


If you're a first time reader, head over to my Star of the Week page to get to know some of the other star players in my life!


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April 2009

I think it's only fair that I start off by explaining to all of my readers that Ryan is NOT my husband (or the father of my children).  I don't mean to say that as if the idea of being his wife repulses me...only that it's just not where we're at yet in our relationship.  


For now...he's my man.  :)


Sometimes, as you can see in this picture---->
he is my King. 




July 2010





February 2010

Ryan and I first met shortly after I moved to Des Moines from Waterloo, Iowa.  He worked with my ex-husband and was one of the few people I knew while I was dealing with a collapsing marriage. He had no clue at the time that my marriage was failing and was nothing more than a friend. Ryan and I were only casual acquaintances and probably had only seen each other a handful of times before my marriage actually ended.  We were not good friends, nor did we know each other really well...but to say that Ryan made a big impression on me would be an understatement. He definitely struck a chord. I remembered him fondly as a guy that seemed to be really nice and completely respectful...a good guy, if you will.  But I didn't do good guys at the time apparently.  I was still dealing with some major relationship issues of my own so I didn't think of Ryan as a prospective suitor.  Quite the contrary, actually.  Ironically, I often thought he'd make a perfect match for a friend of mine! 



June 2010

 

June 2010



After I separated from my husband in April of 2007, I saw Ryan on one more occasion before we would not see each other for almost another year.  We talked briefly about both having played the saxopohones as junior high students.  We talked about my kids and how he thought they were funny and super smart for their ages.  I thought he had pretty buff thighs (extremely weird and random memory) and was crazy sweet.  But there was no flirting or romance, just friendliness and a mutual admiration for one another.  Then we went our separate ways. 

 At the end of February of 2008, after enduring a few short-lived relationships with men that just weren't the ones, my best friend and I were sittin around my place, sippin on S & S's and chatting about life, kids and men....listening to Weezer and Dave.  (Some of the best times in my life, sister friend. :))  We were discussing our *what if* lists of men we thought were good looking, but more or less too good to be true or that had passed us by.  *What if* we had dated them instead?  *What if* we had made a pass at that person?  *What if* this person would call you, how would you respond?....etc. etc. 

This night I mentioned Ryan to her.  I told her about his thighs, to be honest. I might have mentioned he was really sweet and funny but the thighs were definitely the focus here.  This was during a recent MySpace craze and after a few too many S & S's she decided to do a friend request to him, to my absolute horror (hehe..kind of...you know how it is when you've had a few).  He responded and when he saw that she was my friend (her profile picture was of me and her...which I didn't remember), he responded with.speed.  Turns out he had been trying to get ahold of me too!! Within a few days of that request, we were getting together regularly and hanging out frequently both alone and in groups. 

Within a few short weeks we both knew that it was special. 

April 2010

We've been together for nearly three years(in March!) and I don't think it's a coincidence that the past three years

 have been

the very

BEST YEARS OF MY LIFE.

So today I want to thank the man that has brought me so much joy.

THANK YOU
for reminding me
that life's
greatest gifts
can be found
in
the
simplest of places.

Like in a book.

Or on a bike ride.

In smooches.

 

In nature.

 

On walks.

 

On hikes.



In stillness.

 THANK YOU

for loving this earth

and providing for us.

 

THANK YOU

for going out on a limb

to love this family.

And for teaching ME

to go out on a limb and explore.

THANK YOU

for reminding me

that it's ok

to

embrace our youth.

To have fun with life.

THANK YOU

for always proving to me

that obstacles

are just challenges.

Not barriers.

THANK YOU

for the endless laughter you bring

into my life.

THANK YOU

for sharing a similar dream.

Someday soon that acreage will be ours.

THANK YOU

MOST OF ALL

for loving them.

Each of them as individuals.

And as a team of explorers.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY...

to the man...

that makes this family...

Complete.

 

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If you're in a relationship...

How long have you been together?

 

If you're single...

What's the ONE quality in a partner you are looking for the most?

 ***********

"I'm so glad I found you I'm not gonna lose you
Whatever it takes I will stay here with you
Take it to the good times see it through the bad times
Whatever it takes is what I'm gonna do

Let 'em say we're crazy what do they know
Put your arms around me baby don't ever let go
Let the world around us just fall apart
Baby we could make it if we're heart to heart

And we can build this dream together
Stand each storn forever
Nothing's gonna stop us now
And if this world runs out of lovers
We'll still have each other
Nothing's gonna stop us now."
~Starship