You are a great man.

You are a fantastic father.

You are a rock solid husband.

You are just a stellar human being.

You are my husband, and it is your birthday, so today I will, as expected, shower you with compliments and then tomorrow we can go back to complaining about one another, okay?

Mmmkay.

There is no doubt that there are men who come into this world and leave it no better than they found it.

That’s not you.

You, my friend -- and I use that term with full respect and gratitude -- have come into this world, by the grace of your loving mother and have and are continuing to make this world, my life and the lives of our children, better, day after day, after tiring day, after yet another depleting day.

You never thought you’d be living the life you are now.

Admittedly, you never wanted to get married or have kids.

You told me precisely that, as we, as a dating couple, sat atop a picnic table while we watched the sunset from a local beach bar.

Well, here we are — my forty-one-year-old husband — with ten years of marriage behind us, three kids, two dogs, a home and two adult lives we are trying to keep melded and comfortably intertwined.

Some men come into this world and leave it no better than they found it, but, that’s not you.

You are a man who came into my life, by chance and surprise, when I was still a young chickadee.

You followed me to and through college, put a ring on it, and then as a pretty fantastic team, together we created and are now raising the most stellar (albeit, loud) children we are privileged enough to call our offspring.

For many years you have worked tirelessly, and sometimes thanklessly, to support our large family.

You always have and even still, selflessly give up your minimal "free time" and already dwindling energy to satisfy the desire of your children and me to have your almost constant attention and affection.

And, you regularly cheer the kids and me on when it comes to anything we hope or attempt to accomplish.

Some men come into a woman or a child's world and leave them no better than they found them, but, that’s not you.

Because of you, the kids and I are growing as people.

Because of you, we each feel like we have a crapton of strength.

Because of you, I have the divine honor of being their mother, and they get the opportunity to experience the unconditional love that I strive to provide.

Because of, and thanks to you, the kids and I genuinely feel capable of taking on anything, and anyone, in the name of our family, our love and this blessed life we are lucky to live.

You are a great man.

You are a fantastic father.

You are a rock solid husband.

You are just a stellar human being.

You are my husband, and it is your birthday, so I am repeating myself to ensure that you hear me loud and clear when I proudly declare that you are OUR BECAUSE, and you always will be.

It is because of you, the four of us feel fulfilled.

It is because of you our children came into this world.

It is because of you that there is no doubt they will leave it better than they found it.

It's your birthday, baby, and my wish for you this year is that even when we complain about each other, you never forget that:

You are a great man.

You are a fantastic father.

You are a rock solid husband.

You are just a stellar human being.

And here's my second wish for you, because of course, I'm envisioning a trick candle on this imagined and store-bought-because-I-can't-bake-for-sh*t cake...

That your soul reminds you of your impressive AF attributes and your seemingly ordinary, yet anything but, daily contributions.

And, that at the end of each day, you feel at peace knowing that

a messy home,

filled with rambunctious kids,

who are being directed and loved by your frazzled wife,

and the busy schedule each of us keeps

is your present world

and that it is because YOU are in ours,

that we are all better.

Happy Birthday, Babe! I love you!