Happy Birthday, Sweetheart!!!

Today is my Paul's birthday! Happy Birthday, my love! What a privilege it is to be your wife and to get walk beside you as you fulfill God's call on your life.
Paul and I met in college, UMass, Amherst, where he was a hard working Christian engineering student and I was lost and anything but hard working! The Lord saved me and brought me into fellowship with the Navigators where I met Paul. Right away, I was struck by how incredibly handsome and, more importantly, godly Paul was. He was always about serving the Lord and never about flirting or squandering his time. His passion for the Lord was contagious. I respected and admired him so much..and prayed God would bless me with him as my hubby. (My best friend was praying the same for herself!!) Well, the story is long and fun, and I'll share that another time, but God was so good to turn Paul's heart toward me and bring us together years later. (The Navigators were jokingly termed 'never-daters', so we were just friends through most of our college years).
We married soon after my graduation and Paul enjoyed a successful career as an engineer for 14 1/2 years. During this time we were blessed with four healthy children who have brought us so much joy! Paul is such a godly dad and hubby, always investing time in creating family memories and instilling the Word so diligently in our kids.
Back in 1999, God began stirring up our very cozy nest with a call for Paul to leave his lucrative career behind and become a pastor. Paul really liked what he was doing, serving as a care group leader in our wonderful church while working as an engineer and pursuing his PhD, fully funded by Uncle Sam, at Johns Hopkins University. The road to success and prosperity could not have seemed brighter!
Paul wrestled with God and found his desire and calling for ministry was God-given and confirmed by the pastors around him.
Paul left his job to attend the Pastors College in 2000, where he was equipped for serving as a pastor. We then spent a year in Philly for his internship where he was further prepared and evaluated for church planting. Talk about being out of our comfort zone! Yet, God gave much comfort and provided our every need!
The church plant was launched in Sept. 2002. Paul has had so many responibilites since then and has truly laid down his life for the church here. I've watched him 'die every day' gladly for the Lord's work. God's grace is truly amazing, and I marvel at the things He has done. No, it's not been a smooth ride, but what the Lord has worked in our lives is priceless. And, by His grace, He's building a precious local church, a Sovereign Grace Church, here in New England.
Thank you honey, for laying down your life for the Lord. For receiving many blows and blessings in His Name. For being so unwavering in your faith through the trials here and for leading us, your family, so tenderly and skillfully. Your reward is great in heaven, my love!
Happy Birthday to You!!!