Birthday Tribute to My Inspiring Wife

This girl right here! I'm so in love with her and so proud of her. She doesn't make a lot of noise to draw attention to herself, but she truly is a force of nature. So I'm thankful she's on my side! :) . Today is her birthday. Neither she nor I really feel "obliged" to post public professions of love on these special occasions; perhaps because we work more now on speaking our feelings intentionally and often, right here in life's trenches on the other side of your screen. But today, at 37 years young, she is impressing me in all new ways! Let me explain... . ...yes, she is all the things -- a faithful woman who pursues God with all her heart, deeply loving wife, present and caring mother, enormously fun and funny. But can I just tell you, this year I am INSPIRED by her drive to push past her own perceived limits and to insist upon real, transformative personal growth! . @eileen_blume is a fighter. She battles daily against a flood of self-doubt and anxiety that could paralyze many. In the past, it certainly has kept her from grasping what she deserves and dreams of. . It won't stop her any longer. Over the years, she's sacrificed a lot to be at my side even when my goals terrified her. During all of it, I've watched her transforming, learning not only to dream for herself but to believe in those dreams! . Two weeks ago she pushed through a panic attack to show up for people she barely knew, because she saw their worth and perceived an opportunity to bless their lives, though it demanded a lot of her energy. Last week she fought off tears -- forcing her phone into her pocket to resist the temptation to cancel an appointment -- and instead stepped into the recording studio for a podcast interview focused on her experience, because she believes others will relate and find strength in her story, too. . Some people can envision the future as a present reality. Eileen struggles hard for even a faint feeling of hope that she might have what it takes to change her reality. Yet for months now, I've watched her resolutely put in the work every day to build a new professional venture she's passionate about. . As a write these words, she has just (cont. in comments)...