Happy 37th,Marc!!!!

Tomorrow (Sunday, September 25) is Marc's big 37th birthday! Let me be the first to publically wish him a Happy Birthday!

In honor of his birthday, I typed out 37 things about Marc.

The first 6 are the most important, listed in order of important.

The remaining 31, though important, aren't as important, and they're NOT listed in any particular order.

Here goes....perhaps you can learn a thing or two about Marc....

1. Marc is a Christian, and he strives to become more Christ-like each day I know him.

2. Marc is not a perfect husband and I am certainly NOT a perfect wife, but I love the fact that on many occasions, it’s been quite clear that God put us together…I feel that, most days, we balance each other out fairly well.

3. Marc is not a perfect father (and I’m not a perfect mother), but I do think that he is the best earthly father FOR Luke. Luke adores Marc, and Marc knows to and does look to our PERFECT Heavenly Father for guidance.

4. Marc is honest in all that he does.

5. Instead of complaining about his job, Marc chooses to see his job as his “mission field.” From what I can personally tell, he works his job like Colossians 3:23 commands. (And, just for the record, Marc does actually enjoy his job; I just really appreciate his attitude toward his job).

6. In previously mentioned job, Marc doesn’t just work to expand his career. He diligently keeps Luke and me in mind when making decisions about this job. Through this job, Marc is an excellent provider (not just in the monetary sense) to his family, thus allowing me to stay home full-time with Luke – a decision we feel is best for our family.

7. Marc runs a lot (it’s not a big secret). While sometimes, admittedly, the hours he spends running frustrate me, I truly appreciate the fact that he takes care of himself through exercise. I also really ADMIRE his dedication to the running sport. Here’s a little secret from my heart: On our first date, we talked a lot about running. Though I certainly didn’t and certainly still don’t understand all of the miles Marc runs, I respected his loyalty to it to the point of realizing (even on our first date) that Marc is a person of commitment.

8. Before Luke (and subsequent my leaving my job at International Dairy Queen), Marc was most supportive of my job and the travel that it required. He had NO problem accompanying me on a business trip to Hawaii. Seriously, though, Marc NEVER complained about my travel (I was the one who complained). He understood it was necessary for my job description.

9. Though Marc was raised by “older” parents (his dad was 50 and his mom was almost 42 when Marc was born) AND he was/is an only child, Marc does not live his life complaining about the life circumstance that wasn’t ideal in the “world” we live in where everything has to appear perfect.

10. Marc shows a tremendous amount of respect to his previously mentioned parents – even when he and I definitely don’t understand their reasoning for some of the things they do.

11. As a child, Marc took organ lessons because his mom wanted him to. We joke about it OFTEN now, and no, I would not deem Marc as musically gifted (he has other gifts instead).

12. During childhood, Marc and his mother were making a decision as to whether Marc should be in Boy Scouts for 4-H. His mother said he needed to be in 4-H because it was less physically demanding (Marc’s mom is not one to get much exercise). This truly is comical now because of Marc’s intense running hobby.

13. Marc knew from a young age he wanted to be an accountant. He’s stuck to that.

14. Marc has earned a Black Belt in Taekwondo.

15. Marc will most likely, within the next year, reach his 100th marathon/ultra-marathon in running. We might have to have a party for that one. You can believe that food and Pepsi will be involved.

16. Marc is a STAUNCH Republican. If you hang around him for any length of time, you’ll know that by his subtle or sometimes not so subtle comments. Because of this fact, he and my dad and my brother nearly ALWAYS have something to talk about at the dinner table. Fortunately, they’re all on the same page. There are no arguments.

17. Marc, I think, is more tender-hearted and more sentimental than I am.

18. Marc really enjoys an ice cold Pepsi. He’s not afraid to ask somebody for one, and he’s been most appreciative when various friends have brought him Pepsi when a) I was in the hospital after surgery in July, 2007, AND b) Luke was born in July, 2008. He shares his love of Pepsi with my dad – also a Pepsi lover – as well as various “Pepsi Friends.”

19. Marc likes it most when I cook simple meals…he needs nothing fancy. He’s very content with Sloppy Joes and Tater Tots.

20. Marc enjoys traveling AS MUCH as I do. Pre-Luke, we did a fair amount of traveling. Though we’re currently on hiatus from BIG trips (because of a small child), we know we will take BIG trips again someday. In fact, we have a world map at our house with “goal” places to visit in our lifetime.

21. Marc does not drink coffee at all (I think it’s a rebellion from his parents’ addiction to coffee), but he really enjoys the smell of coffee. So, he doesn’t mind it when I make coffee each morning.

22. Marc’s not what I would call a big reader. However, he does strive to read in his Bible daily. And, he does read what’s needed for our small group’s Bible studies/Sunday School. And, I’ve witness him reading a political book or two. And, I don’t want to forget that he does read the “Wall Street Journal” most days.

23. Marc is an early morning person (it’s when he runs). It’s hard to have a serious conversation with him at 10:00 P.M. I’m just the opposite. It, at times, has been a problem in our 7 years of marriage. Our communication differences based on our circadian rhythms is something we have worked on, are working on, and probably will continue to work on the rest of our lives.

24. Marc stinks sometimes, and I mean that LOVINGLY. And, I’m not talking about stinking from sweat while running. I’m talking about stink that comes from so many guys…I personally think it’s rude and uncouth. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, message me. But, many of you reading probably have husbands who do similar things. So, you know what I’m talking about.

25. Many know that Luke has an intense LOVE of lawnmowers at this stage of his little life. Marc has been willing, many times, to take Luke outside to get the lawnmower out of the shed and start it. It’s been father/son bonding time. However, I also appreciate that he’s able to sometimes say “No” to Luke, and Luke has had to learn that “No” means “No.” Lawnmowers simply don’t need to run each day.

26. 2 ½ months after Marc and I met, we went on our first trip together – so Marc could run in a race he planned on running before we met. We went to Toronto (Canada). He paid for everything. I didn’t know it at the time, but he put that trip on a credit card that was not fully paid off by the time we got married a year later. Ultimately, I ended up paying for some of that trip when we joined our checking accounts. We LAUGH pretty hard about it now, and we also know now that goes completely against our money management philosophy now (putting things on credit cards -- with the exception of Marc’s business travel -- is against our policy).

27. A couple of months before we got married, Marc handed me his income tax papers and asked me to drop them in the mail. I said, “Sure.” He kept on by saying, “Oh, if you could write a check for that, it would be great.” The income tax owed by Marc that year was $800. He cleverly got that paid before we were married and had joined accounts. This is something we now completely LAUGH about now.

28. Marc wants to get a dog in a couple of years for Luke….we’ll see what this will entail.

29. At least once a month and sometimes more, Marc does the lights for our church services.

30. This year, Marc is head of finance for our Judgement House production at church. I think he’s learned a lot about some of the work that goes on “behind the scenes” for Judgement House.

31. Marc is 1 ½ years older than I am. He graduated from both high school and college one year ahead of me.

32. Before we knew each other, we had been at 2 weddings, one wedding rehearsal dinner, a New Year’s Eve Party, and many running races at the same time. We didn’t know it, and we laugh now at how we missed each other at those events. I remind him that one reason was because at many of those events, he was with his former girlfriend.

33. Marc and I look more alike than my brother and I do. Since we both have Mennonite backgrounds, I’m scared that one day we’ll figure out we’re related.

34. Many people think that Marc must eat healthy because he runs so much. Marc doesn’t really take health into consideration when picking foods or making suggestions for meals I make.

35. Marc is a very neat person….with the exception of his clothes. I often find piles of clothes in our bedroom, and they’re not my clothes.

36. Marc’s favorite sitcom is “Seinfeld.” He can quote nearly any episode and can relate nearly any life event to a “Seinfeld” episode.

37. Marc would someday like to bike across the state of Kansas. I wouldn’t be surprised if he bikes across the USA sometime.