The Miller Memoirs

Happy Birthday Carrie!!!

Bryan here again. After my first blog post a couple weeks ago, I swore it would be the last. I had enough misery in the middle of the night trying to make the pictures, font and alignment right to last for a life time. But here I am again. It is a testament to how much I love my wife. Not only am I posting on this highly feminine blog that usually deals with pictures of little girl swim meets and church experiences, but I am once again doing it in the middle of the night. I guess this is the price of being married to a fabulous, beautiful, woman who dwarfs me in every way but size and uncleanliness.

So in honor of the 31 years (11 of them wasted on me) this amazing woman has been bettering this world with her presence, I give you three reasons why Carrie is so awesome, plus one bonus reason (get it 3+1, 31. I know I am lame, but look, asking me to blog this stuff in the first place is stretch so you just have to take what you get.)

1: Carrie is a spiritual giant. While she doesn’t always know the scripture reference she is looking for, she is the best at living them. Her faith is simple but powerful. She relentlessly wants to serve. She takes spiritual growth seriously. I said she may not know the reference, but that may change since she wakes up every morning at 6:30 to study the scriptures. She is constantly trying to improve herself. It must be maddening for her to live with someone like me who is (let’s put it nicely) pretty content with things as they are. The good news is she is pretty patient about dragging me along with her.

2: Carrie is beautiful. Seriously, did you see the picture I put in this post? I just took that with my cell phone on an average day. No hours of prep or fancy makeover, she is just gorgeous. Now scroll down and find a picture of me. That is right. This bombshell married me, and I am not even rich! It is hard for me to believe too. The odds of me landing a girl like her have got to be astronomical. It is kind of like hitting a Grand Slam on your first at bat. Perhaps she needs glasses, or maybe she is just a sucker for nerdy CPAs, but I know I am honored to have such a beautiful wife. It gives my kids at least half a chance to not end up looking like their dad. Yes that hottie is 31.

3. Carrie is giving. I like to tease her that she always gets her way, but Carrie just doesn’t do things for herself very often. She puts up with long days shuttling kids to and from school, and other activities. The house is always neat. Dinner is made, not just for us, but also for someone that is sick. She attends countless volleyball games/softball games/music concerts for her young women. She never has time for herself, but she never complains. In fact, she is typically trying to figure out how she can do more for others. She spends quality time with the kids and volunteers in their schools. She also has to spend the occasional night as a single parent when her husband works late. I think the best example how much she gives is her “Carrie Budget.” Carrie has a rather small amount of money she gets every month that is totally for her. She can blow it anyway she sees fit; no questions asked (or husband complaints to deal with). This is her money for new shoes, fancy haircuts, and pedicures (or whatever else girls waste their money on). The funny thing is the Carrie Budget is never spent on that stuff or even on her! Typically, the kids get a new pair of jeans. Her young women get taken out for their birthdays. I get a new work shirt. She just can’t help herself. She just does not seem to have the ability to think of herself before others. I love her for her giving spirit, but I think occasionally she needs to buy herself a new purse or something girly like that. She seriously wanted to take the kids to swimming lessons and not go on a date for her birthday. She was worried about the budget and did not want make the kids miss their favorite activity. Take some time for yourself on your Birthday you Weasel.

Bonus 1: Carrie is a sweet, innocent, loving angel. This was what she told me as we were walking to her apartment one day when we first started dating. She then proceeded to throw a fistful of grass at me. That experience made me question the innocent part, but I have come to know over the last eleven years that she was right. Carrie is a sweet, innocent, loving angel. So much so that some people can’t seem to grasp that she is for real. Sometimes I can’t believe that someone as totally awesome as her would want to spend time with me. Being married to her seems like a dream come true to me (though perhaps her nightmare). Thanks for being my best friend. Or perhaps I should say my sweet, innocent, loving angel.

Well that is it. Happy birthday Carrie!