Guess whose having a birthday?

It's birthday time in the Cannon home and the love of my life is celebrating her birthday today, September 24. I am truly lucky to be married to such a wonderful woman. She was born, and lived her first five years of life, in upstate New York before moving to Evansville, Indiana. When I met her in Los Angeles, she was working as a pharmaceutical rep and had chosen LA because she was sick and tired of cold weather. It's funny how in life such decisions one makes, like choosing your home because of the weather, can have a tremendous impact on other people's lives. And my life is so much the better for having met and married Shelley Daetwyler.

There are so many reasons why I love Shelley. Shelley is smart...really smart. She has a great mind. Did you know that Shelley was the math champ of Evansville? Well, she was. She also prides herself on having a mind like a steel trap. She frequently used it against me...since my mind is more like an old leaky bucket.

Shelley is also a great public speaker. When she was giving the commencement address in middle school, she said it was her wish that her class could have a successful high school career. Unfortunately, Shelley wore a retainer and successful came out "sexful", twice. The ground cheered loudly. In all seriousness, one of the things that attracted me to Shelley was her strong presence. I remember a church event that Shelley gave the spiritual thought and I was literally blown away at how powerful she spoke. I kid you not, it was that night that I ultimately decided I would ask her out.

Shelley is a wonderful daughter, sister, wife and mother. She is devoted to her family, where ever they may be. There is no other place she'd rather be than with family. She once told me that she was such a good sister that she would dangle her retainer over her younger sister Pam to make her do whatever Shelley wanted or else Pam would be touched by the retainer. (I see a theme with this retainer). Certainly Shelley has had to sacrifice a lot being here in Japan - away from family. I'm grateful for her spirit of adventure in making this time in our lives so fun.

I love Shelley because she makes me want to be a better person. She makes me feel loved. She is beautiful, funny and a lot of fun to talk to and be around. She is extremely spiritual and leads a true and honest life. She is a wonderful mother to our children. Each and every day I'm so thankful that Shelley is in my life.

So happy birthday, Shelley! I love you tons.

I've collected a number of pictures of Shelley as a baby and young girl. Click on any of the pictures in this post to see a gallery of those pictures.