Behind every (great) man is a great woman (rolling her eyes)…

This is a tribute to my (eye rolling) wife. Because she doesn’t get enough credit for her hard work every day, taking care of our family. I figured it was only appropriate to use the voice of my alter ego to thank her properly. And because part of this journey is also being grateful for what you have.

You all know a lot about me and my Total Balance. The truth is, it’s really not MY Total Balance – it’s OUR Total Balance. It’s time you guys get to know the real mastermind behind this endeavor. I might be the one leading the pen, but make no mistake – my family is my muse.

After 4 years of cohabitation with a beautiful redhead, on 11.11.11 I asked the love of my life to marry me.

Luckily, she said yes.

We were going to get married on 12.12.12 on a bounty island, somewhere far from the cold north, surrounded by only our closest family and friends. However, after one long evening, surrounded by just our closest family (I think it was just my family, actually), we decided that there was no way in hell that we were going to spend even a weekend on an island, surrounded by our family! (true story). So, we decided on a late summer wedding in Denmark instead, and it turned out perfect (the weather was with us, luckily!).

We’ve now been married for more than 7 years, and I think I speak for the both of us when I say that we (you) often regret that decision! 😛 Luckily the regrets wear off (somewhat) and we still enjoy each others company (for the most part, anyway). Unfortunately, we’re rarely alone these days! We now have a beautiful 5-year old daughter, who clearly inherited her fathers “gifts” for running her mouth. Oh lord can that girl talk/sing/blabber. If only she had inherited your singing voice, and not mine! I know as a parent, you should always be proud of your kids, and encourage them to unfold them selves, but I really just wish she would STFU once in a while! 😛 That girl never stops talking! I now know how you’ve felt all those times, where I’ve been talking your ears off (the pre-kid days). I’m sorry, honey! I truly am!

But you are one of the most patient people I know, and I admire your ability to resist the urge to kill yourself, now that you live with two blabber-mouths! Thank god we only had one kid, although people often tried to convince us that having one just wasn’t enough – we needed two. We often disagree with one another – but on this matter, we’re fully aligned! One kid is more than enough 😛

At this point in my blogging career, I feel it’s OK to start quoting myself (from The Story):

My new girl had expensive taste (don’t they all?). Right before we started dating, she had her credit cards replaced with a debit card. It was the only way she could control her spending (her own words!). Oh my. Was I in for a treat!?

I remember that one of the things I loved about you the most, was the fact that you were truly able to live like there was no tomorrow. Unlike myself, who always “worried” about tomorrow, and still do to this day. You told me once that you never imagined living past your 30th birthday. You were living wild and free back then 🙂

Now you worry about tomorrow, even more than I do…I wish I could somehow relieve you of this worry, but unfortunately I think this burden comes with being a parent (or just a grownup). I always knew I grew up ahead of time, but you somehow managed to postpone the worrying, and now it’s playing catch-up with you. Life is sometimes unfair that way.

As patient as you can be, you can sometimes also be the most impatient person of them all!

When are we ready to FIRE already?! – TEoW

We make a good team that way 😉 Mr. and Mrs. (im)patient! When you get impatient, I somehow manage to become the patient one. When I get angry or upset, you become (stay) calm and collected. When you become angry or upset (it happens!), I become calm.

You’ve always been eager to move forward. Sometimes I found it hard to keep up with you (it’s getting easier now that you move a little slower than back then 😛 ).

You wanted to move out of “the city” and even having our beloved summer house (which you also kind of decided that we needed) couldn’t change that desire. So we moved. And while it might not always appear that way, I’m certain it was the right move for us. I know you hate it when I say it, but everything happens for a reason, and life is a journey. If you never try to move anywhere, it’s gonna be a shit boring journey! So thank you, for always moving us in the right direction 🙂

I know that you are struggling with your foothold lately, but you are the strongest person that I know, and together we will make sure that our journey continues in whatever direction is the right one for our family 🙂

From the day we met to the day I die, I will always do my best to fulfill your wildest dreams. I know I have been falling behind in this job lately, but I promise I will pick up the slack eventually 😉 (even though slacking off is my favorite activity).

Whatever happens, you will always be The Extraordinary Wife in my book.

Stay strong and foolish <3

I love you.