Sobremesa Stories

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Friday Faves: A Birthday Shoutout To The Guy Behind The Blog

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If you’ve been here a while, you know that marriage is one of my favorite topics.  I’ve learned so many things since my hubby and I got married a little over two years ago and I have a heart to encourage other women in their marriages.  But as much as I write about marriage, I haven’t spent all that much time writing about the guy in my marriage: my handsome, hilarious, and oh so wise husband, Jordan.

Since that special guy is turning 26 this weekend (which makes us feel really old and might make many of you think we’re pretty young), I thought I’d dedicate today’s post to him.  I thought about sharing 26 things I love about him, but y’all, that’s just too many things (not that I couldn’t come up with them, more that I might have to save that for our own date nights).  Since Jordan is born on the 11th, I think I’ll just share 11 random facts/things I love about this guy!

Without further ado…the guy behind the blog!

11 Random Facts About My Wonderful Husband

1) Jordan led Young Life for five years and Young Life is how we met! 

In case you missed our love story I shared a while back, Jordan and I met while working at a Young Life Camp in New York the summer before our junior year of college.  I remember loving his silly sense of humor, his deep heart to love kids, and his amazing blue eyes and tan muscles (true confessions).  We spent a month working in the snack bar together before heading back to our respective states (me North Carolina, him Missouri).  Four months and lots of texts, phone calls, Skype dates, letters, and one fateful visit later, we started dating!

At a local Young Life "Muckfest" in 2013

At a local Young Life “Muckfest” in 2013

2) He is Kansas City born and raised (and pretty proud of that fact).

This guy has lived in the same city his whole life and has deep roots here.  I’ll be honest, I couldn’t have pointed Missouri out on a map before I met Jordan, but his passion for all things Kansas City (from the Royals to BBQ) has made me a KC girl at heart.  I’ve loved becoming a part of his community and am so grateful to be married to a man who values people and family over running after the next thrill or moving just for the sake of moving.

Guy Behind The Blog KC

3) He is a HUGE Duke fan and has the ability to become emotionally invested in any sporting event within 30 seconds.

Seriously, y’all, we could happen to flip by a random college’s women’s lacrosse game on tv and it only takes about 30 seconds for Jordan to be passionately cheering on one of the teams.  While I like to make fun of him for the incredibly loud and creative things he yells at the screen (even when he’s watching alone and I’m in bed), I love this part of him and it makes us giggle pretty frequently.  It also makes us watch a lot of Duke basketball games and pay extra for sports channels. #marriage

Guy Behind The Blog Duke Game

I won MAJOR girlfriend points when I surprised him with tickets to the Duke vs. Davidson basketball game in 2011!

4) He has a quick, easy sense of humor that puts people at ease.

One of the things I loved about Jordan in the beginning (and still love now!) is how quickly and easily he seems to connect with people.  Where my introverted self wants to ask people about their deepest, darkest secrets after about 45 seconds of conversation, Jordan has the ability to laugh and have fun with anyone he meets.  He’s not a showy, center of attention kind of guy, but I love his charm and how proud I am to attend social events with him.  Plus he keeps me laughing all the time!

Guy Behind the Blog Groomsmen

5) He writes AMAZING letters.

I’m pretty sure this is the first thing that made me fall in love with him.  Even though words of affirmation aren’t his love language, he wrote me the most beautiful, heartfelt letters all throughout our dating relationship, on our wedding day, and for special occasions since then.  He expresses things so beautifully when he’s given a paper and pen and that’s so good for my words-of-affirmation-loving heart.

Guy Behind The Blog Reading Letters

Reading old letters we’d written during our engagement pictures.

6) He has a deep heart for the Lord and for people.

I remember reading Jordan’s letters before we got married and being amazed by his heart to know Jesus better.  I love the way Jordan’s walk with God permeates everything he does.  He teaches me so much about what it looks like for faith and time spent with God to extend beyond just a “quiet time” in the mornings and I’m so grateful to share life and faith with Him.

Honeymooning in Sonoma, CA

Honeymooning in Sonoma, CA

7) He teaches high school special education and has a passion for working with people with disabilities.

Whenever we tell people this, they tend to say things like, “Wow, that takes a really special, patient person.” But Jordan usually responds by saying it more just takes a sense of humor, and I think he’s right.  Watching Jordan interact with people who have disabilities is one of my favorite things in the world.  He treats them like people, laughs with them, and has a heart to see them grow and be successful, whether it’s the students in his class or our neighbor with Down’s Syndrome.  He’s also pretty dang patient too, although he’d probably never admit it.

Guy Behind The Blog Race

With the whole English fam at a race to raise money for a local school exclusively for students with special needs (where Jordan worked for two years!)

8) He is an amazing athlete and runs super fast!

In case you missed this post about learning to love my husband’s hobbies, in recent years Jordan has started pursuing running and racing.  He loves riding his bike, running, and just about anything that gets him moving outside.  I’ve wrestled with this at times but the longer we’re together, the more I realize how much I love this about him.  Not only are his rides and runs a way he builds community, they also are deep, slow time where he unwinds from the day, spends time with God, and grows more ready to love and lead our family well.  And it also takes us to fun places like Ireland for races (or more accurately, we go to Ireland and he happens to run a race, even though we’ve been on what we call the “Europe beer diet” for 6 days).

It takes a truly dedicated athlete to run a race in the middle of a five week Europe trip (and to drink a good ol' Guinness afterward because...Ireland)

9) He is really freaking handsome.

I mean, come on.  Do I really need to give an explanation on this one? (His only requirement for our wedding photographer was that she get him a “Justin Timberlake” shot, because what else is a wedding photographer for?)

Guy Behind The Blog Justin Timberlake

10) He is fully committed to our family and does whatever it takes to show me that.

At various seasons in our marriage, my insecurity and shame have been overwhelming and I’ve looked to Jordan to hold me and support me in big ways.  He has come through over and over again, always being there to listen when I need him, challenge me, encourage me, and even come with me to counseling, even when talking things out on a couch isn’t his ideal way to process things.  I’m grateful for all the ways he shows me over and over again that our family is his priority.

At one of our favorite local brunch places

At one of our favorite local brunch places

11) He is going to be an amazing dad.

This one feels especially relevant this birthday, since this birthday marks the start of a year where he will become a father.  Not only does Jordan have the silliest, most playful spirit that is adorable with kids (I mean, the guy taught elementary school special ed for two years!), he loves little ones so well.  I love watching him love on our niece and nephew and can’t wait to watch him love on our kids.

Holding our niece and nephew - we look pretty natural though, right? ;)

Holding our niece and nephew – we look pretty natural though, right? 😉

If you made it through all those, I’m impressed! Happy birthday to my handsome, wonderful husband who makes my life so much sweeter.  I’m so glad to have shared the last few birthdays with you and can’t wait to celebrate you many more times in the years to come!

Guy Behind The Blog KC Skyline

Head over to  A. Liz Adventures, Fitting It All In, Life in Leggings, Grace and Love Blog, Momfessionals Friday Favorites, and Running 4 Cupcakes for more Friday favorites!

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Comments

  2. Aww, this was such a sweet post! Happy birthday to him! You’re right, I’m always kind of surprised when I hear how old other bloggers husbands are because I’m so used to having an “old” husband, haha! He was already 26 when we got married and he’s 31 now. I was just 19 when we got married, though, so sometimes I forget that more commonly, people marry spouses who are within a couple years of their own age, not 7+ years, haha!
    Rachel G recently posted…Preschool at Home: Week 5My Profile

    • Haha the blogging world definitely makes age seem less important in a lot of ways. I know plenty of people who were a few years apart! I feel like once you’re in your 20s/30s and everybody’s working age doesn’t seem quite as important. Thanks for your sweet words, Rachel! 🙂
      Lauren recently posted…The Assumption That Is Changing Our MarriageMy Profile

  4. So cute! I love learning about the men behind blogs. I can’t imagine my life without my husband! Looks like you found yourself a keeper 🙂

  10. You hit the nail on the head, not going to lie. You husband IS handsome!! Y’all make one of the cutest couples I’ve ever seen! And I just love that y’all wrote letters…ugh. Y’all are just #goals. hahaha. <3

  14. I am in tears reading this! You two seem like the happiest couple in the world! Happy birthday to your husband! I’m so blessed you have him in your life. It’s so cute that he writes amazing letters, and even more cute that you have a picture of that! You both are so photogenic!
    Chelsea recently posted…Cinnamon Vanilla Iced CoffeeMy Profile