dedicated to my best friend

I've been thinking about this blog entry all day. I hope you all forgive me for being a little sentimental for a few minutes...

I have the best husband in the whole world. I wanted to dedicate this entry to him, even though he rarely has time to read my blog. Many of you know the funny, sarcastic and loud side to my husband and very few of you have had the privilege of seeing the caring, kind, and dedicated man that I am blessed to call husband. For those few, here is a short list of why I think he's so neat:

1. He ate the soup I made last night even though, after he finally got home at 9:30 it was more of a casserole than a soup. He thanked me for making it and said it was good.

2. I see an invisible layer of large rocks on his shoulders, trying to support me in all the ways he knows how. Despite these rocks, he never gives up or lets me see him worry. Even though he won't admit it, I know he worries about the many unforeseen expenses we have and the lack of funds he is receiving now. He tries to hide it, but the rocks tell all when I ask him if we'll have a little extra money to buy ingredients to make gingersnap cookies for friends and he says with a look of fault, "Not this week."

3. He's always the one to initiate family prayers at night. No matter how tired he may be, like last night, just before we both get too comfortable in each others arms, he'll kiss my head and say, "Let's say prayers." His faith and reliance on prayer and the words he says give me so much strength.

4. Whenever he comes home from work, no matter how early or late, he smiles when he sees me and says, "How's my wifey?" Then he gives me a big hug and kisses me as if it were going out of style. He makes me feel like I'm all he wants to see at that very minute.

5. After almost three years of being together, he still opens the door for me and gets disgruntled when I forget and open it for myself. When I'm wearing a skirt, he gives me hand when I get in and out of the car and then smiles like that's his favorite thing to do.

6. Every morning before he goes to work, he goes out to start his car while I'm still in bed. In a weird display of affection, he then comes and puts his cold hands on my stomach and kisses me. "I love you, wifey," "I love you too." "Have a good day; I'll hurry as fast as I can."

7. Sometimes I fall asleep on the couch before bed. He wakes me up and carries me to the bathroom so I can get ready for bed. While I'm washing my face, he pulls the covers down on our bed and turns on my side of the heating blanket.

8. He always knows when I need to cry or vent. He'll gently say "Come here," and then continues to hold me and we rock while he listens to whatever it is I'm worried or frustrated about that day. When I'm done venting he says "It'll all be ok because you know why? Because we're together"

9. A few weeks ago he brought home a small box of chocolates and when I bit into the coconut filled one, he finished it for me because I hate coconuts. When he bit into the one with more chocolate in the middle, he gave it to me instead because he knows those are my favorite.

10. He's FINALLY understanding how I like my back tickled and he's doing a wonderful job. Right before we fall asleep, after prayers, I'll say, "You wanna tickle my back, huh?" and he usually says, "no," but then he starts anyway.

I love you, B.