My Christine

 

          Hi Babe. Happy Birthday. I have little control over how this day will go for you. I am not sure if you will have cake, candles, or any party. Yet, I wanted to provide something that would cause your mind to go back and remember. I wanted to provide something that would cause your heart to be full. Although I could not provide you with a party with all of your friends, you can now have their love and memories permanently printed to keep and always remember. I really did very little. Your wonderful friends and family made this all possible. I already knew this but your friends are so wonderful. Since we have been married, I have not been able to be around many of my friends from
my youth, but you have done something wonderful for me. You have shared your family and friends with me. I am grateful for their friendship to you. It is simple. I love all those who love you. I hope you have enjoyed their words. I am no prophet, but I can only imagine that our keyboard is now tear-stained from their kind and good words. I have read every word of these posts. I have learned more about you and I find every single word to be true. You are as good as they say you are.
       What can I contribute after all the sweet words that have been spoken. I'm not quite sure, but I hoped to reminisce for a moment.
                                           These are just a few memories before life in the military...

      Sunday May 13th, 2007 (Mother's Day)  I heard your name spoken to my ears for the first time as a missionary. Kalee told me on the phone that she wanted me to meet you, and that she thought I would really like this girl in her ward named Christine.

     August 9th, 2007 I thought that this football game was created so we could meet. I find out later that, that wasn't necessarily the case. Regardless I meet this beautiful girl who was so fun. Although I had been home from my mission for 2 days I definitely wanted to get to know you. I had fun. I ask if you are going to the dance that Friday.

   August 10th, 2007 ( Maybe my dates are wrong, but I guess it was the next day) I pick you and Lindsay up and drive to wherever we went in LV for the YSA dance. We dance. We have fun conversation. Who says return missionaries are awkward when they come home. At that point, I was like mission... what mission?

   August 12th, 2007 I give my homecoming talk. You were there. You wore a green and white shirt.  I remember seeing your family and in particular my future father in law during my talk. You came up and talked with me after the meeting. If I remember correctly we went to a fireside that night, and possibly bicep sat on the way back.

   August 30th, 2007 (or so... you are better at dates. I would be better if I had my journal) I leave for BYU. I tell my grandparents in St. George that I met this girl in Las Vegas and that we are going to date. I told them that I wasn't going to date anyone else.

   September 5th, 2007 You visit me in Provo. You come down from Salt Lake on a shuttle. I meet you on campus in Brigham Square. We walk around campus, and the conversation to be honest was a little forced and awkward. Then you got on the shuttle to go to Rexburg, and my heart ached. I prayed. The answers came.

   September 14th, 2007 I come to visit you for the first time of many times in Rexburg. I came straight from Aspen Grove to your apartment in our trusted vehicle, "G". I changed into a fresh pink shirt before I came upstairs. This day everything went so well, but I was a little nervous or just anticipating the day to come. I loved being with you and meeting all your friends. I came to have more friends in Rexburg than I did in Provo.

   September 15th, 2007 In the afternoon, I asked you if we could go to "the spot" and talk. You of course agreed, and I hit you with a ton of bricks metaphorically, by telling you that I loved you and wanted to marry you. We had only been exclusively dating for maybe 2 weeks. I explained what had been happening to me and shared some entries from my journal. You had many emotions, but I think you used the book on the shelf metaphor. We put that book on the shelf, but we opened it back up pretty soon.

 September 21st, 2007 You come down to Provo. I am way less stressed after getting all that out the week before. We have fun, lots of fun. You can correct me if I am wrong, but this weekend we have our first kiss( as Walker walks by in the Raintree parking lot with his doo rag on.) Love came first, then the kissing. It was perfect.

  October 6th, 2007 We spend General Conference weekend at Shar and Daves. You tell me you love me. I knew it already, but I loved hearing it. We dance at Greg's and I sing the song from "White Christmas," the one that has the line " even guys with 2 left feet ..." Falling in love was wonderful.
 

  October 18th(best guess), 2007 You tell me you want to marry me over the phone as I am walking by the bridge past the Raintree parking lot, near the beauty school. The next day I go on a FTX with BYU ROTC for the weekend. Army responsibilities begin to keep us apart for the first time....
     

      Those are great memories. Even better memories keep coming as you go on with the story:

Marriage.

Move to our basement apartment.

 Away at Airborne School.

Jacks Birth.

 Away at Jordan.

Move to C & L(Bartons).

 Away at LDAC.

 Move to a new apartment.

 Move to Henderson (Smith Family/Lindsay and JW).

 Move to Ft. Benning.

Away at Ranger School.

Fisher's Birth.

Move to JBLM, Wa (Poulson Family/ Pat and Liz)

 Away at Yakima Training Center.

 Away at the National Training Center.

 Reunions.

Away at Afghanistan.

 

     Of course there are so many little experiences that fill in the gaps. I love the little things like sitting on the couch, watching a movie, and holding hands. I love dancing in the house with you. I love our talks as we go on drives. I cherish moments when we have deep and profound conversations about how to lead our family to spiritual success. All the temple trips, dates, outings with the kids, and day to day simple events bring such joy to me. Everyday is fun and so very sweet. My time with you is delicious, and I crave it so very often.

 

      Soon will be the time when we reunite, but as I look back there have been a lot of moves. There has been a lot of time away. But there has been so much time with family, friends, and loved ones. Almost every move has taken us to someone we love. Every time we are a part we have grown, our marriage has grown, and we have turned out to be better off for it. Despite saying all that, it has been difficult. It has been pretty rough at times, but you have been so supportive and selfless. You never complain. You just take care of business at home and deal with everything I put you through with great patience. All I can say is that I have nothing to complain about because I have you. You take care of everything. You do the finances. You take care of the children. You take care of the house. I bring in a pay check, but other than that my contributions are limited. Thank you for running the smith family show. I may finance it but you are the producer, accountant, day care leader, chef, and the list goes on. But all I can say is that you make a pretty good show, and I am grateful to play the part of your husband. If I could do it all over again, the only thing I might change is waiting so long to figure it out and tell you I love you sooner. I should of known on Aug 9th and if not then, August 10th there should of been no question. Luckily my eyes were opened and I came to the greatest realization, the most profound truth, and sweetest miracle of my life: Christine Poulson was the girl I needed to marry. Thank you for saying yes then, and yes every time I push you to sacrifice one more time for me, my job, or anything else. You make my life more sweet, more wonderful, and more worth living. I look forward to working with you on the Smith family show set for many more years to come, and I am grateful it will never end. Baby, Happy Birthday. I hope to reiterate what so many have said in this blog. You are so very good. You are a friend. You are an example to us all. You are simply lovely. You are strong. You are beautiful. Thank you for being my very best friend. 25. This is a great number. It will be the best year of your life. I promise you that. I love you with all my heart. I will see you soon.
                                                                                       Love,
                                                                                          Harrison