I am thankful for my husband.
Almost ten years ago, I had just finished a high school basketball game on a Friday night. I came home to shower, freshen up, and apply a little makeup as quickly as possible. I squeezed into a pair of my favorite jeans, knowing basketball season was the wrong time to be forcing these muscle fueled thighs into the popular flare style, I covered my hips with a big baggy wool sweater. It was burgundy with speckles of purple, blue, yellow and teal. I think I got it from goodwill. I threw my hair up in a messy bun without drying it. It looked extra dark. I was always mistaken for having black hair if I didn’t take the time blow it out, but it was so long I couldn’t waste time with that. I waited impatiently by the front door for your arrival. Dad was already in bed. He was tired from attending my basketball game. Game nights took a lot of energy out of him. He would have been waiting at the door with me if he was well, I am sure.
It was going to be the first time Mom was going to meet you. {If only she knew, it was going to be the first time I was going to meet you, too.} She was going to judge. She was going to size you up and see what your intentions were with her high school daughter. She was going to wonder what exactly the plans were for the evening, what time you would have me home, and especially speculating if you were thinking like a college boy would be thinking at your age… I think she was a little nervous. I never talked to college boys and Mom knew all my friends very well by senior year. I think she was a little concerned about this one.
“Where are you going when he gets here?” She asked, as I kept my eyes peering out the big front window waiting for headlights to make an appearance. {What kind of car does he drive, I wondered?}
“I don’t know, Mom. Probably Taco Bell.” I snipped back. {I wondered what he looked like in person. What do college boys do? What were his intentions? What if I think he is weird? What if he is weird?}
“How do you know him again?” She asks. She must have been catching on to my deep thoughts filling the room. “Mutual friends, Mom. Mel G knows him. She likes him. He is a good guy.” I reassured her. {Not sure what I was reassuring her about because Mel G knew very little of him and I was feeling quite unsure about him myself … Am I crazy? This is how girls end up dead on the side of the road in a ditch… I think Mom put that one in my head at some point. Maybe I knew that would be exactly what she would have said if I had told her the truth.}
A white impala pulled up. {My heart dropped into my stomach.}
It was driving very slowly and parked right in front of my house. I watched out the window as this tall, skinny, dark haired boy got out of the car. It was cold and I could see every breath you took. {It reminded me to breath myself.} Wearing jeans and a letter jacket, you walked up to my front door. You were cute. Very cute. Broad shoulders. And a friendly smile. I opened the door as you were about half way of the ramp. {It was a long ramp built by our church members once Dad was wheelchair bound.} You were skinny, I thought to myself. And tall. So tall! Most people were taller than my 5’2 frame, but you were the tallest boy I had ever gone on a date with. {Well, actually you were just the first boy I had ever gone on a blind date with. I was feeling quite taken back by your good looks that were actually walking my way in flesh and bones.} Before you got to the door your big brown, twinkling eyes met mine and for one very fast mini-instant I had a crazy thought swarm over my brain like the black plague: What if this is the last boy that I ever date for the rest of my life? The thought was gone just as fast as it began, and not once did I think about it for the rest of the night.
You looked shy. You came in and shook Mom’s hand. She was impressed. “All-American Boy” was the exact way she celebrated on her first impression with you – she told me this later that night. We left, assuring Mom we would return soon… just going to grab some Taco Bell we told her. You were quiet on the walk to the car. You were quiet when we first got into the car… maybe too quiet and I was feeling uneasy. We pulled away from home and I crossed my fingers extra tight that your boy-next-door appearance was not some façade of a hideous serial killer in the working. {Again, I pictured my mom saying – This is how teenage girls end up dead in a ditch on the side of the road! Ugh man, what was I doing?} We were no more than 3 blocks away from my house when you drove right through a stop sign. “Well, if you were going to kill me tonight I think you just missed your chance,” I said playfully. You were a little clueless as to what happened. Maybe a little shock set in as you just realized I joked about dying on our first date… I snickered hoping to lighten the mood, “You just ran a stop sign!” You laughed in embarrassment and apologized profusely. Your genuine charm set off a flame in my heart. I teased you about it all night. You were uncomfortable, and I could feel it. I liked it. I liked you. I liked us.
♥
Tyler, on our third wedding anniversary today, I honor you and your wonders. Words are hard to find when describing how much you truly have enhanced my life. You are, without one doubt, my other half. You are my soul mate. You are my rock. You are my peace of mind. You care more about me than I sometimes care about myself {thank you for seeing so much in me}. You are a quiet, intelligent man that inspires me to be a better person with every breath I take. Your stout loyalty is ridiculously impressive. You shoulder virtuous instincts and a robust integrity. You love taking care of your family {thank you for letting me be a part of your family}. You cook, you clean, you spend ungodly amounts of quality time with our son {yes, you are his favorite and I cherish that despite my continuous sarcasm}, and you even do laundry! {Ladies, you can look but don’t touch; he is alllll mine!} No task or job is below you. You are always offering your helping hand to people around you. You are humble and determined. You are the strongest male figure I have ever had in my life and you complete me. I am very little without you.
I could not ask for more. {Our wedding song}
How about I squeeze into some tight jeans, throw on that baggy burgundy sweater, and we take a drive to Taco Bell tonight. Just maybe this time, you halt at all the stop signs; we are carrying precious luggage these days {in the form of a sweet little boy}.
Today, I am so very thankful for my husband.
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Many Blessings and Cheers, Jax
à la optimism 