{happy sunday + happy birthday}

Today's post is coming early today for quite a few reasons. First of all, yesterday was my last wedding of the season (and I survived! can someone please grab me a glass of champagne now?), and second of all, it's my darling husband's birthday today!

I'm not usually one to post stories that are too personal (at least not of me), but I thought I'd make an exception today. It is his twenty-fifth birthday after all, and Robert's story is more than a little inspirational.

I don't know that I've ever told this on the blog before, but both Robert and I were raised by single mothers. To say it that way doesn't really give my mother-in-law due credit though (we'll talk about my own mom another time, don't you worry), because her story isn't a typical single-mother story. You see, my mother-in-law was only fourteen when she got pregnant with my husband. I'll spare you all the gory details, but know that this wasn't a romantic teenage love story. It was only because of her love for her son and sheer will that got her from soup kitchens to where my family is now. It took me a while to understand when I was younger, but I have no doubt now: what she did was incredible and I have only the highest love and respect for her. She also had to put up with a romantic teenage love story when Robert and I started dating, when he was only fifteen years old. I can imagine how terrifying that was...

Robert was the first person in his family to graduate from high school, and now he is not only a college graduate, but has a Master's degree, and is currently a PhD candidate. In less than two years, he will be my Dr. Duff. Oh, and did I mention he's turning twenty-five today? I love him, more than anything, and I am so blessed to have such an ambitious and compassionate husband. 

I wanted to use this space for a special mantra this weekend. To celebrate all that my husband has accomplished in his twenty five years, all that my mother-in-law has done, for herself and her (our) family and save a little bit for all I've done too. Last night was my last wedding of the season, and I'm honestly not quite sure what to do with myself just yet. But I know that this next year is going to be just amazing. I can feel it.