Resilient

You are such a strong person.  You’ve been so sick lately – the bebé hasn’t been easy on you.  Thank you for carrying our child and thank you for putting up with me!  I don’t know how you stay so strong and resilient.  I love you!

Tiffany, Read this Post First!

First Year of the Rest of Our Lives

One Year. 12 months.  52 weeks. 365 days.  

Are you ready for many more?

I started this blog two months after our first date.  I have written you my feelings as our relationship has progressed over this last year.

I can't help but tell you how I feel.  My hope, now that I am sharing this with you one year after our first date, is that as our relationship progresses, we can write to each other.  ...Love notes, thoughts, fears, joys, ideas for growth, sharing our lives and our relationship to each other and to Jesus.

Wife, I want you to know that I am not going to stop pursuing you.  You are the most beautiful person I have ever met, both inside and out.  I want to fall in love with you and have you fall for me every day.  You have changed my life with your contagious smile, your great laugh, your kind heart, and your passionate love for Jesus and others.  I can't help but celebrate you, love you, and pursue you!  You deserve only the best God and life have to offer.  I hope to give you a glimpse of heaven, now during our short time on Earth.

I love you.

365 days

365 days ago I was sent to room 6850 to interpret for you.  I noticed your unique white watch and your beautiful smile.

I became intrigued by your compassion for your patient.

You captured my interest, and I knew I had to get to know you.  I feel so lucky that I was sent to interpret for your discharge.

We have had an amazing 365 days.  We are only just beginning.  I can't wait to enjoy 25,000 more with you!

Strong

Esposa,

I have come to learn how strong of a person you are.

Almost every day you are feeling sick, and the only way I know is because you want to sit and be alone. You don't complain or groan.  I can't imagine what you are feeling, and yet somehow you are not showing it. I feel helpless - what can I do?

I care about you so much.  You are the love of my life.  How did I get so lucky?

Secret

Four days ago, on 2 December 2013, we found out we now have a secret (for a bit).  As much as I want to let others know, I enjoy sharing this just between me and you.

I am so incredibly lucky to know you.  You are an amazing person, and I hope to serve you every day. You deserve the best.  I may come up short often, but I want to never stop striving to serve you.  I love our journey!

Your husband

My Joy

Hanging in our bedroom is the small chalkboard with a string attached so it can be hung up - the one we held in some of our wedding pictures with the words "thank you" written on it so we could send out postcards with pictures saying thank you.

Now the chalkboard says "My heart is yours forever."

I love that.  I am so grateful that your heart is my forever, and that my heart is yours forever. Forever is even further beyond our own lives!  I'm so grateful for you, Tiffany.  You are my joy!

Attraction

I am attracted to you because you don't love people only when you get what you want...You love people no matter what.

You love your family and friends despite their hurting you.  You teach me to love better.

I love you.

Your husband,
Nick

Inspiración

You are a good person.

And yet you teach me how to be a better person everyday.  Thank you for making me want to be a great person.

Today you left for Grand Island to be with family during their loss.  It's your mom's sister's husband's dad who died - somebody you are not close to - and you find out and go to be with them.  Thank you for inspiring me to be a good person. Thank you for loving people well & for showing people how much you care for them.

Who You Are

To my beautiful wife,

I love you for who you are as a person:

-strong and filled with integrity
-you are so kind and loving to people (character)
-you love Jesus

I love you for who you are, not for what you do.  Only God can love truly unconditionally, but I want you to know that I love you and there's nothing you could ever do to make me stop loving you.

Culmination

I still can't catch my breath thinking about our wedding and reception.

You put in so much work to make it a great day and a great party for everyone.  You looked so gorgeous - I was stunned (you know that I truly always know you look beautiful, but wow - you in your dress was so beyond anything I've ever seen!).

Even the pastor Chris, in the middle of our wedding after we said our vows, said "wow that was actually really good."  We stunned the pastor!

More guests than I can count said it was the best wedding and best reception they had ever been to.  Thank you for making the day amazing!

I've loved you since the beginning. September 28 was the culmination of my life to that point.

Esposa

Wife,

We had such a fun and wonderful wedding day.  The ceremony was amazing, the bus ride with our closest friends to the reception, and the reception - all great memories.  I can't even believe how great it all was.  I loved every moment and soaked it all in.  Thank you for making that day so great.

I consider myself lucky for every single day I get to be with you.  I love who you are as a person.  I love your integrity, and I love your kind heart.

Thank you for waiting for me for 28 years of your life!  If I had to choose between you and the woman of my dreams, I would choose you!

Passion

I love your passion for people.

When you think of someone you love, there are times when you tear up.  When you think of our wedding, you are so happy that tears come to your eyes.  I love your optimism and outlook on family, friends, and life.

On September 28 when we say our vows and become husband and wife will be the culmination of many important dates.  From December 14, 2012 when we talked outside room 6850 to December 18 when we had our first date.  On new years eve we shared our first ever kiss at midnight!  On April 28 I got down on one knee and asked you to marry me.  September 28, 2013 is the day where we publicly announce our love and our life together!

Thank you, sonrisa!

Wedding

In one week we will stand in front of God, our family, and our friends and become husband and wife.

God truly is good.  (I hope we will cling to the fact that we know God is good even when the difficult times come.  When that time comes, we cannot abandon our love and faith in Jesus.)

God is truly good for having a hand in putting us together.  Growing up when I thought about my future wife, I had abstract and unrealistic thoughts - I was immature and had immature thoughts.

The funny thing is that you are so much more wonderful than anything I could have imagined (even when I imagined unrealistic things).  I've heard heaven described like that - more wonderful and glorious than anything we can even think up.  Thank you for giving me a glimpse of what that feels like.

Love,
your fiance (for one more week)

Forever

You are my one true love and I will be with your forever!

This is part of what you wrote to me after we were in a moment of stress over something to do with the wedding (the cake napkins!  ha HA! We can laugh about it now...)  I love how encouraging you are.  You wrote me saying that even as our stress levels rise, we need to keep supporting each other, and you ended the note with this:

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them!  1 John 16

Thank you for loving me through the good and the bad, and thank you for encouraging me.  I hope that your encouraging note helps to also encourage you when you read this.

I love you!!

Love,
Your one and only

Message

Fiance,

You wrote me a note the other week and this message was so thoughtful and wonderful of you that I want to write it here so I never forget.  Thank you!

Here's what you wrote:


Nick~

I just want you to know why you are the perfect man for me!

You love Jesus!
You love me!
You try so hard to make me happy but don't give in to everything, you tell me no when I need it.
You like it when I sing to you!
You put up with me when I'm crying for no reason.
You eat my cooking and claim to like it.
You not only tell me but show me you love me everyday.
You are adventurous.
You are thrifty & resourceful.

I love you.

Dinner

Sonrisa,

Thank you for having dinner with me at work.

You work 12 and a half hours, and instead of rushing out the door, you come see me in my office and have dinner with me.  You have even stayed a few hours on certain nights!

I really appreciate how much you love me and how much effort you put into our relationship.  You are truly a special person.  I am incredibly lucky to have you love me like you do.

Time

Tiffany,

You are such a strong person.  I am lucky to have you in my life because I learn to be a better person from you.  Today I learned restraint.  You are so passionate about life and people!

You deserve the best of everything. Most of all, you deserve to be happy.  What I'd like in our lives is time.  I love spending time with you, and someday we will be spending time together not just as lovers, but as parents.  I love our time now - alone - but being a parent will be like nothing else in the world.  I want for us and our family to live our lives fully for each other, our loved ones, God, and I want us to be a voice for the voiceless and hope for the hopeless.

Thank you for taking the journey we call life with me!  I am truly blessed beyond understanding.

Wedding

I’m so grateful for your patience, especially with me.  Thank you for being a kind, strong woman of God who knows when to whip me into shape and knows when I need some grace.

You have been so wonderful through the whole wedding planning process.  Other people who have gotten married complained how much work it is, how hard planning is, how “everything changes once you’re engaged”…

But I haven’t seen that with us.  You handle stress so well.  You have done thing for the wedding little by little, not letting anything build up.  I am grateful for you and all the work you’ve done.  In general, the whole process has been enjoyable.  I enjoy doing things together and even though we’ve had passing stressful moments, I haven’t felt the process has been “work” or “hard” or that “everything changes”.

You bring joy into my life!  I love you.

Beauty

I try to focus on your inner beauty but it's so hard when you are so beautiful on the outside too.

Eyes and Smile

Your eyes and smile are so beautiful.  Do you remember when we were in Colorado and we saw the double rainbow?  Your first thought when you see it - what is it?  I can't describe my feelings when you smile, but when I think of that double rainbow and your reaction, it has to be something like that.  When you see something so profoundly pretty that you can't help but thank God with everything you have.

I love to look into your eyes because I can tell what kind of person you are. You have such a gentle and kind heart.  You love people with all your might, and it attracts me to you like a magnet.  I love being pulled in by you and your love!

Looks

Today we had our last counseling/coaching session with Denise and Gary before we get married.

Gary closed saying that he has worked with numerous couples and he can see that we have something special.  I hope that every single person sees the way I look at you and they know the depth of how much I love you.  I can see it in you when you look at me.

Thank you for looking at me, for know who I really am, and loving me.  I am the luckiest guy I know.

Selfless

I love you because you are selfless. 

You think of others and truly love them.

Thank you for thinking of my health and often worrying about what I’ll take to work for lunch…knowing that we are spending every single day together is truly a gift.  Thank you for the gift that is you!

Practicing Love

I always am striving to love you.

What I mean by "striving to love you" is that I want to show you how much I love you, I want you to feel how much I love you, I want you to feel my love pulling at you.  You are so beautiful and astounding that you deserve to be wanted.  I want you.

My love for you isn't something that I can fall in or out of - love is what I do.

From moment to moment, I hope to do love, to show you that I love you.  Of course, there are many moments where I'm not doing a good job at this, but I'm practicing at getting better.

Lucky

Today you wrote me a message:

I am so lucky to have you as my future husband. You are a beautiful strong man of God and I want to thank you for being the leader of our family! Thank you for being willing to make sacrifices for our family and loving me unconditionally. There is no one else in the world as great as you and I hope I can show you every day for the rest of our lives how wonderful you are.
 
Thank you for being the man you are!
 
I Love you

T



Even though I'm writing these love letters to you on this blog, I wanted to copy what you wrote me today.  I love that you are so encouraging towards me. Most of all, it makes me happy that you respect me.  I get so filled knowing that you respect me.  I appreciate that so much.  You are so wonderful and amazing.  My love for you is unlike anything I've ever felt towards another person. You inspire and awe me.

You make me a better person. 

I couldn't ask for anything else.  I love you and want to serve you for the rest of my life.

Special

This weekend we went to Bob and Mary's.

While I had my face full of chicken, your grandpa looked at me and said that you could have any guy that you want, so I better treat you right.  I looked him in the eye and told him that I do and will, and I know I am such a lucky guy.  Very lucky.  It's  not just a saying. Your grandpa and I both believe it.

When we left, aunt Grace also let me know that I had a very special girl.

Do you realize how special you are?  I love you and thank God and your family for supporting you and raising you the way they did.  I am blessed to have met you and blessed that I get to spend my life with you.  I love you!

Cookies

I love you because you are so selfless and think of others.

You have been asking about my grandpa Quandahl and his procedures lately, and tonight asked what you could bring him when we see him.  You knew he has diabetes so we can't bring regular cookies...

I love how you love to serve others and put a smile on their face.  You are truly amazing.

December 14, 2012

It's amazing how one day can change your life.

December 14, 2012.

In room 6850 from 15:35-16:30 I didn't know it, but my life would change.  I interpreted for nurse Tiffany Cote, and I knew you were very special.

I waited for when the nurses get off and walk out through Clarkson's front entrance, but when you walked by I simply raised my hand and waved.  But that wouldn't be the end of our story...


Tiffany, you are astounding because you have a servant's heart. Without service, we are nothing. Thank you for being a servant.

The cache to change our lives

April 28, 2013 - The Proposal

Here is a little memory of the night of our proposal.


What the geo cache said while you were looking for it at the Dundee Double Shot:

¡Sonrisa! This cache will change your life.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What the geo cache now says:

Small container, well camo'd. There is no need to disturb any plants in order to find this cache. Area may be muggle heavy, so be sure to use stealth! Placed with the permission of the property owners. There is space for small trade items. BYOP.

This cache was recently the spot of a very special story. This was the first date- first cache location for a local cacher. He and his date weren't able to find the cache, but they found true love! They returned some time later and with a little help from me- he hid his engagement ring in the container, and briefly added a hint to the listing. This time she finally found the cache, and the surprise of a lifetime.

Congratulations to T & N, wishing you both a lifetime of love and happy caching!

I do

I will be proposing to you soon, sonrisa.

You and I have already talked about how the divorce rate is so high, so what makes us think we’ll be any different?

It comes down to a few things.  Here’s one of the biggest:

Commitment. 

I want you to know that I am committed on making our relationship work. I don’t believe in “falling out of love.”  Nobody falls out of love. They stop working at their relationship.  I want this to serve as a reminder of my commitment to you, and to working at our relationship.

How Do I Know that You Are the One?

I want to spend the rest of my life with YOU, Tiffany Marie, because:

…The relationship has gone smoothly since the beginning. We have had a few fights, but they are healthy fights.  That’s to be expected.  We have been together from the beginning (no break ups and getting back together).  To put it plainly, everything has been so natural.

…We get along well with each other’s family and friends.  What else can I say?  I enjoy being with your family, and your friends.  And I know you enjoy my family and friends.  They all have only good things to say about you!

…There is nothing I would change about you.  Neither of us will fundamentally change once we are married.  I’m sure we both have little things that get on each other’s nerves.  (But hey, only if I were perfect would I never get on your nerves. I’m glad I’m not perfect.)  I love that you are a woman of character, service, passion, and honor. We have these things in common.

…You are my best friend.  Beyond attraction and chemistry, you are my best friend. I love being in your presence and sharing my life with you.  When we are old and gray (or bald!) and wrinkly, what will hold us together will be the fact that we can share anything with each other.

…The thought of marrying you only excites me (and doesn’t scare me).  Since we first met and started dating, I haven’t had one second thought.  On tv and in movies some guys talk about “cold feet.”  Cold what?  I have never had to think about whether I am making the right decision or not.  I can’t live without you!

(I have to give credit to Brett and Kate McKay for the putting ideas on “the one” into words).

Family blessing

Today we got back from visiting Grand Island for Easter.

This was finally my opportunity to talk to your mom and Kim in person and let them know my intention to ask you to marry me. I want their blessing!

You know how I am bad at keeping secrets or sneaking around, but I finally was able to talk to them each individually. I got to Kim first while you and your mom were taking a walk yesterday.

I think you knew what was going on today when I asked you to wait in the car while I thanked your mom, but that's the only opportunity I had all weekend! (right before we were headed back to Omaha)

Normally I'm pretty good about expressing my feelings, so I don't get too nervous or have to write things down. But asking your mom and Kim for their blessing was nerve racking and I want to do it right.

So... I wrote a note in my wallet and had it with me all weekend. Here's what the note said, although when I actually talked to your parents I didn't pull it out. I don't think I did as well on my improv version, but here's what it was suppose to be, according to my note:


Diana and Kim -

I love Tiffany. I love who she is as a person.  I love how she treats people around her. I love her smile and how funny she is.  I want to spend the rest of my life with her and take care of her. I want to know if you would give me your blessing to ask her to marry me.

Dulce

Mi sonrisa Tiffany,

You are one of the kindest, sweetest people I have ever met.  Your love for people is so evident that you radiate with love. I am lucky to have you in my life!

-Nick

Life Together

Even though we may get upset with each other (just kidding, that never happens), I wouldn't want to spend my life with anyone else.

And I know you feel the same way.

The Love

Tonight you text me out of the blue.

"I love you soo much!!"

My eyes become watery.  I know how much you truly mean it, deep within you, and it humbles me.  I love YOU soo much!! I love you.

The love we have for each other is amazing.

Smile

I love your smile.  Your smile is one of the first things I noticed about you, after I saw how well you treat your patients at work.  You have a great smile!

I love that on your day off, you chose to bring me chili while I was at work. You don't have to do things like that, and yet you are so thoughtful and kind. And the chili was great!

I love that you get ready fast. (sometimes faster than me)

Better person

You make me a better person.

You love Jesus, and you inspire me to follow Him with you!

The "little things"

Tiffany,

You always seem to pay attention to the little things. 

You text me when you're at the store to see if I need anything.  You buy me toothbrush holders so poop doesn't get on my toothbrushes. (wait, what?)

When you're in my office at work, and I have to run to the er, you wait for me... even when it turns into an hour long "run". 

Remember that week that I went with no internet?  (well...you also did a week but started it a few days after me)  You checked the weather and let me know for my bike ride home after work.

Most people would call these little things. I don't call them that.  I am so grateful for you and how thoughtful you are.  

Valentine's Day

You are amazing because...

You knit.  I think it's pretty cool that you knit.  Thank you so much for the scarf for valentine's day (although I'm still waiting for it to be finished...)  I appreciate that hand made gift.

You are a very thoughtful person. I appreciate the valentine's day card where you first told me you loved me.  I could see it in your eyes before then, and you could tell by the way I look at you that I loved you too.  But on valentine's day we made it official!

First day of the rest of our lives

You and I went on our first date together 2 months ago today.

Coffee at the Dundee Double Shot. 

You ordered decaf, and I was impressed with their old coffee tote bags.  I remember we tried geocaching but were unsuccessful (actually I still haven’t found a geocache yet). 

These last two months have been so amazing. You are amazing.  And you are the inspiration for this blog. 

Before we ever verbally told each other “I love you” we were both thinking it.  I would find myself about to simply say it, not even thinking at all about it, and have to catch myself… wait, how could I love someone I have only been with for a month?  And yet I love you so much. I love you so much!

Now, I have been finding that I look at you and tell myself “I’m going to marry you.”  When I look at you, I see my future wife.  

You are amazing because…

The way you care for your patients inspires me.  You are the most caring person I have ever met. You care so deeply for not only your family and friends, but for everyone you come across.