***Disclaimer... this blog was supposed to go up yesterday. So every time I say "today"... it means yesterday... but you'll catch on ;)
Today is a special day for Josh and me! So naturally, he's next up in the Share the Love series. If you haven't seen the previous posts, you probably don't know what I'm talking about and should start at the beginning! Here are the links:
Part 1: Jessica
Part 2: Missy
Part 3: Lauren
Now that you're all filled in on Share the Love, let's talk about Josh! He wears lots of hats-- husband, musician, producer, pastor, wedding DJ, and I've watched him grow in each of those roles in the time I've known him. Naturally, my favorite hat that he wears is the husband hat... he's the one who stands beside me every day and deals with my insecurities and meltdowns, and lays down beside me every night loving me still. I've never met another guy quite like Josh-- he's one of a kind and some days I can't believe that he's mine. He's stronger than I could ever be, both physically and mentally, and teaches me to be strong too. Josh is enthusiastic about every project he tackles and doesn't stop until it's as good as it's going to be. Right now, he's considering going back to school for his master's degree for the sole purpose of wanting to learn, and preparing to potentially teach others in the future. I'm so proud of that! His enthusiasm to see things done well is also what pushed him to build his very own wedding DJ business, Josh Staley Productions, from the ground up, and it's taken off incredibly fast! We had a terrible experience with our own wedding DJ, and that left Josh thinking... I could do that! And I could do a much better job than that guy. And he does!!! As a wedding photographer, I've worked with a lot of DJs, some of whom have been on the job for twenty years... and Josh is better. Honestly. His charisma, passion for music, and mixing/producing experience make him the perfect for the job. He notices things about sound and mixing in ways I never could, and he's trained his other two DJs to do the same! (If you're looking for a DJ, click here to visit his website!)
Josh has a lot on his shoulders for a twenty-six year old. His job follows him home, demanding time at odd hours and always presenting surprise problems to solve. He has to earn and maintain the respect of men and women older than he is, while at the same time remaining humble and submissive to those above him. He's not perfect, but he doesn't give up. He stands by his convictions every time. He longs to see the people around him grow, and works tirelessly to help others develop their skills and become the best versions of themselves.
Four years ago today, Josh and I sat in a little coffee shop called Beans'n'Cream and made our relationship "official." It wasn't a decision we took lightly, and we talked for a long time that night. I still remember some of the things he told me and how I appreciated how open and honest he was. I still made him wait a few weeks to change our relationship status on Facebook... but in my heart, I knew it was the right thing. I don't know if the possibility of marriage had really entered my mind at that point in time, but I knew that he had pursued me, treated me with the utmost respect, and opened his heart to me. I trusted him. And four years later, I trust him so much more deeply than I did then. I know that he will always have my back, that he supports me, and he wants the best for me.
When was the last time you told your special someone that you trust them? We say "I love you" all the time, so much that sometimes it doesn't really hold the meaning that we intend. Tonight, share the love by not just saying I love you... tell them you trust them with everything you have, that you appreciate them more than you can express. Tell them there's no one you'd rather spend your time with. It will probably mean more than a simple "I love you."
