Blessing #18---My Hubby

I know, I know. This post is extremely overdue. And, several times I have been reminded of the fact that I haven't posted Blessing #18 yet. I guess part of the reason this post has taken me so long is because I can't do justice to the amazing man my hubby is in a mere blog post. Nonetheless, this is my attempt.

My hubby, me, Amy and her mom

For those of you who don't know...my best friend Amy introduced me to my hubby. He lived in AZ and I lived in CA. Through the course of emails, phone calls, and visits back and forth, we fell in love. Actually, it was the third email from him, in which he shared about the Song of Solomon Bible study he was in, that I knew this was a forever deal. I was awed by the fact that a 20-something year old guy was in a Bible study, and I was overwhelmed with the fact that he actually wanted to share with me about it. From that point on, each time I spoke of him to someone else, the word "amazing" naturally popped out of my mouth. My "adopted aunt", Dottie, would always joke with me and ask me, "Is he amazing?". And, of course, my answer was always "yes".

Fast forward 5 1/2 years and here I am...married to that amazing man, blessed each day to call him my husband, and to be the mother of his child.

You see, my hubby is a giver. I used to tell him that it frustrated me that he was so selfless, because that meant that I didn't get to be. He truly is a pretty selfless man. I guess he gets that from his mom and his dad. He has a very hard time saying "no" to people who ask for his help or his talents. He reminds me of my dad in the sense that I truly believe he would go out of his way to do anything for me. If I want to do something, he is always encouraging of me and does everything in his power to ensure that I get the time to do what it is that I want to do.

He works hard. No, he isn't a workaholic or consumed with work, but when he is there, he tries to make wise choices that will advance him, in an effort to provide for me and Little Buddy. He gives me the opportunity to stay home with our precious son, all the while thanking me for doing so. I remember before Little Buddy was born...I was worried about whether we'd be able to live on one income. As we talked about my concerns and my fears of what we'd do if he were to lose his job, he very matter-of-factly said, "I will make sure your needs are met. If I have to work at McDonalds and two other jobs, I'll make sure you and Little Buddy have what you need. I'll never let you need for anything. That is important to me." Those words comforted me and gave me unbelievable peace.

While my hubby can be serious and willing to have deep discussions, he doesn't take himself too seriously. He loves to have fun and is a kid at heart. It is so "amazing" to feel so comfortable with someone...being able to be ridiculously silly, to dance like fools, and to do it together. He is my friend and my beloved.

Obviously, I am beyond blessed when it comes to the subject of my hubby. I am married to a man who knows my secrets, my flaws, my insecurities...and he loves me in spite of them. In fact, in times when I have struggled with my insecurities, he has often said that those are the times he loves me even more...because he knows that is when I most need to be loved...and to know that I'm loved. He loves me when my physical appearance is not "every man's dream", and that sure feels like unconditional love to me.

These are the vows my husband wrote and recited to me on our wedding day:

I promise you today, before God and these witnesses:

--to always love you, no matter what the circumstance

--to be the man that God has called me to be for you and to be the leader that you deserve

--to make our marriage a priority in my life, whether it be date night or doing nothing at all...I

want to enjoy life with you, without letting the time pass us by

--to encourage your wishes and dreams, so you never have to wonder "what if?"

--to respect your thoughts and ideas, no matter how crazy they may seem at the time

--to love, honor, and respect you in all that I do, so that when the day comes that I will be

held accountable for the gift that God has given to me, in you, I will be able to present you

pure and blameless in His sight

The amazing thing about this is that my hubby really does try to live out these vows. Sometimes it is harder than others, especially when I'm difficult to love. But, even still, he tries. No, he's not perfect, but he's perfect for me.

Not only is he an amazing husband, but he is a fantastic father, too. I could post an entire blog just on this subject. But, here's a brief snipit of my thoughts on my hubby as a father. ... Recently, we were discussing whether we thought parenthood was what we expected or whether it was quite different from our expectations. My husband's words still bring tears to my eyes. He said, "Being a dad isn't as hard as I expected, but it is way more important than I thought it would be." This makes me emotional because HE GETS IT. My husband really understands the impact he is making on our son and as a result, he is an active, present father. He loves his son with such a deep love and concern that it is no wonder Little Buddy seems completely secure in my hubby's presence.

I never thought I was worthy of a husband who would meet all of my "husband criteria". But, then, God went and proved once again that it isn't about what I deserve, but what He so graciously chooses to bestow upon me. So, I recognize how extremely blessed I am to share my life with this "amazing" man.