Today it is my husband’s birthday. He is the most amazing man in the world.
And the best of husbands.
I almost missed marrying him because I said no when he asked me (except not so politely). It is only that a brave girlfriend said this to me:
“You should marry him, he will treat you kindly every day of your life. You have to face it Toni, you are not much of a catch.”
I was, fortunately, smart enough to know the truth when I heard it and it was every word true. He has treated me kindly every day of our marriage and it was a miracle that someone like me ever got to marry someone like him. You can read about how we got together here.
Marrying Phil has turned out to be the best and most fun decision I have ever made.
Useable insight – if someone who really cares about you tells you a hard home truth, listen!! Thank you Donna!
He is someone who naturally focuses on the good things (I should have learned that from him earlier). In the early days of our marriage he would bounce in from work and say something like ”Wow, you cleaned the sink!” and totally ignore all the stuff I had been too lazy to do. He gives and gives.
One day, very early in our marriage, I went to pick him up after work and sat in our car watching all the men stream from the building. They all scurried off, heads down, rushing to get away. I waited, no Phil. It seemed everyone had come out of the building and I was beginning to wonder where he was. Then I saw him slowly come out the door, stop at the top of the flight of stairs and look up at the sky. He looked for a few minutes and then, with a great lack of urgency, descended the stairs.
This moment has stayed with me as a ‘picture’ of who he is. Never hurried, rarely anxious and on full alert to roses, sunsets, nature and any other wonder.
He wonders. Stops, wonders, notices and enjoys. This makes him such a beautiful man who has never lost his childlike ability to enjoy what is in front of him, he embraces simplicity.
One of the very first things he ever said to me was “I can do anything”. He was 19 and I thought he must be very arrogant to say something like that. I was to find the opposite was true. This was a statement of profound modesty and connection. He just understood that he, like anyone, could do anything they wanted. His creativity and brilliance at solving problems and making things is quite special.
Phil is a very humble man who sees the potential in everyone and every thing. I thank God every single day that he saw potential in me at a time when no one else could see it.
The list of things that are great about him is rather long. When he turned 50 I tried to write some of them down… and stopped at 50 – it seemed fitting. Here are a few.
He shares a simple wisdom that cuts to the heart of things.
He is gentle. Sometimes his gentleness can be mistaken for weakness but don’t be fooled… he is a man of extraordinary courage, self discipline and strength.
He is also patient, kind, loving, fair, hard working, faithful, honest, true, hilarious, tender and wonderful dad- I have to stop because there are too many – I don’t want you to be ill reading all this lovey stuff.
Hint: a man who is secure and unselfish is likely to be great in bed.
He is simply the most amazing man I have ever know, he has filled my life with goodness and I am the luckiest.
Phil, happy birthday, I am grateful for all of it. Thank you! I love you 500 zillion jonathans.
The beautiful man himself!!!
Toni Powell – making a film, loving a life and things I learned.
proud mama of one son who saw the wrong in this actions 
