the definitive Ben and Eirene

About Ben (by Eirene): Ben is my favorite person on the planet. He is charming, funny, witty, kind, sincere, intelligent, hard-working, and thoughtful. I miss him when he's not with me, I laugh continually when he is. He is my best friend. I first met him in the eighth grade, where he had the advantage over all the other pre-pubescent boys of having a job (in the lunch kitchen) and knowing how to drive. In high school (where we were just friends) we were in drama, student council, and tenth grade biology together. In drama, we played opposite one another in the play "Annie". He was Warbucks, and I was Annie (it might be speculated that this gave us our first taste for adoption!) (kidding). His parents taught him the value of hard work, kindness, and manners. I never knew Ben that he didn’t have a job (except when he was a missionary for two years in South Africa). If I had had any brains, I would have been head over heels for him in high school, although I do remember once confiding in my best friend that one day Ben Henderson was going to make a great dad. Years later, when our paths re-crossed, it took about five minutes for us to fall in love. We dated for two months, were engaged for two months, and the following year, I had the delight of finding out how dead right I had been about Ben all along. He is an amazing father. Our children adore him, as is evidenced by their shouts of joy whenever they hear the garage door open. Ben is the manager of a flower wholesaler (yes, that means lots of fresh flowers for me). He loves his job, his’65 Ford pick-up Leona, reading the news, and taking care of our yard. He knows the words to old country songs, and he reads to the kids every night. He is my treasure. Quote: “Lightning McQueen, I only missed you a little bit. I missed Mae and Ike a lot!”



About Eirene (by Ben): Mrs. Henderson, Eireenie, or just Reenie is one of those few people in life that seem to light the way for everyone else. She has an infectious charisma and spunk that can make anyone crack a smile and has kept me entertained for the 13 years I've known her. From the moment we became friends our freshman year of high school I felt an immediate deep bond with Eirene that I wouldn't fully understand until about 5 years later when she looked me up after discovering that we lived in the same college town. I knew it. The instant she wrapped her arms around my neck on our first date I felt like I was coming home after a long absence. I felt refreshed! Eirene thinks, learns, and speaks for herself. Her mind, heart, and soul are open to all that is beautiful, beneficial, and fun. She isn't content with letting knowledge come to her, she anxiously yearns for it and actively seeks it out. Eirene doesn't settle for the status quo in any circumstance, but rather believes in change, progress, and improvement. I knew all of these things about Eirene long before we began dating, but after having grown up and matured much I was finally ready to soak it all in! I knew that if I was going to have a chance at being truly happy and satisfied with my life and endeavors, that I had to marry Eirene. I knew that if I wanted to experience true love in all of its ups and downs, trials and triumphs; if I wanted to make any sort of impact on the world for good, I had to marry Eirene. I married Eirene! I married life and joy! Eirene is a true pleasure. Whether the medium be paint, pen, or photoshop--she is an artist. Whether the student be grumpy husband, eager child, or spiritually needy churchgoer--she is a teacher. Be the recipient a baby's bottom, a child's head, or her own shoulders--she is a seamstress. Eirene can do and actively does anything she desires. If she sees something she wants to wear, cook, or achieve she gets a book from the library and teaches herself how to make it happen. My wife is a doer. My wife doesn't just believe in good things, she IS good things! Eirene is the mother of our three incredible children. Everything she does has the ultimate effect of teaching and nurturing Mae, Ike, Ida, and their daddy. She teaches through example and tender understanding. She helps me understand how our individual children need individual care, time, and love. All of Eirene's education, hard work, sacrifice, and life experience has created an unbeatable, unbelievable mother. Eirene brings me joy, encouragement, happiness, laughter, fulfillment, forgiveness, and faith. She is my inspiration in all I think, do, and say. With Eirene as my wife--a true woman of God--how could I ever go wrong!?