Trista turned 47 on October 28, and Ryan sang her praises on social media for her big day. He uploaded two photos on Instagram: one of their whole family when the kids were younger and one of just Ryan and Trista. In his caption, Ryan wrote about the concept of time and how it never stops despite efforts to do otherwise.

He began, “Time never stops. It never speeds up. It never slows down. Beat by beat it marches forward, thwarting any attempt to stop it. We are all participants in the synonymous game of life and time.”

The caption went on, “Despite the knowledge that life goes on, propelled by the forces of time, there are those people that come into our lives that make us wish we could delay the inevitable - push pause, stretch the moment, stop time even briefly to appreciate the entirety of the experience.”

Ryan said Trista was “that person” and that he’d felt that way “since the day I met her.” He wrote Trista “grounds me, teaches me, inspires me and has taught me that, though we can’t stop time, we can appreciate every moment of it.”

The Colorado native concluded his note, “Today, on her birthday, my wish for her is the thorough understanding of how grateful I am for her. I know she hates getting older. But I love getting older with her. Happy Birthday @tristasutter I love you forever & ever...”

Trista re-posted his Instagram and wrote, “I’m not sure how I got so lucky, but oh how I love this man and his thoughtful words, my babies, our friends and family, and another chance for a trip around the sun.”

About two weeks before her birthday, on October 16, Trista took to Instagram to reflect and how she tries to “take stock in my blessings and just try to show myself some grace.” She wrote, “Oh, how I try to be an angel, but life with all it’s judgment and expectation is tough and sometimes I fall (WAY) short of being worthy of my wings.”

Trista also wrote in her caption, “Even if it’s just for one minute, reflecting on the special people and moments that make our worlds go round, can give us the perspective and attitude change we need to happily get through each day and everything life throws at us.”

Then known as Trista Rehn, the former Miami Heat dancer found love as the inaugural Bachelorette. She and Ryan Sutter hit it off instantly on Season 1 of “The Bachelorette” in 2003 and they’ve been together ever since. They got married on December 6, 2003, and have two kids — Maxwell, 12, and Blakesley, 10.