You likely already know that I met my husband in high school. Actually, we went to junior high together (I’ll tell that story another day) and didn’t start dating until 1991 when we were sixteen. He played trumpet in the marching band and I was on the drill team. During football season, for our halftime show, I stood right in front of him.

And that’s how it all started.

He went one way to college (Auburn) and I went another way (local college. Okay, COLLEGES, plural).

For our entire dating life, this is basically how I thought of him:

• nice
• cute
• funny
• strong work ethic (would say “I need to cut 5 yards this week so we can go out on Friday”)
• fraternity parties (Kappa Sigma, Auburn University)
• works on cars

So, during college, when he asked me to marry him I thought “Okay. I’m getting this nice, cute guy who is funny and works hard; occasionally goes to fraternity parties.”

Good deal.

Well. Let me tell you what I ACTUALLY got.

The guy I married turned out to be exceptionally generous and selfless. You know that saying “will give you the shirt off his back”? Well, Tony will do that without thinking twice. And as it turns out? He isn’t cute. He’s handsome. And now he has reading glasses and those jokers will absolutely send me to the moon. He will almost always say yes to anything I or the girls ask of him. If he doesn’t say yes? He’s saying, ‘Not yet’. He will do everything he can to figure out how to give us what we’re asking for. The guy I thought I married was funny. Is he funny? Nope. He’s brilliant with the one-liners and completely hysterical. When we were dating I don’t think I knew just how smart he is. He’s a problem solver and a fixer and so very smart. And yes, I knew he had a strong work ethic, but I didn’t know he’d work to build such a successful business for us; all while seamlessly balancing home life, kids and friendships. And let me not forget his love of music and how it has shaped our relationship.

So yes, when he asked me to marry him I thought “Okay. I’m getting this nice, cute guy who is funny and works hard; occasionally goes to fraternity parties.”

Good deal.

Well. Let me tell you what I ACTUALLY got.

Something so much better.