The sweetest man alive

My incredibly adorable husband and me...and no, pregnancy has not been kind to me.
Neither is getting up early to go run, though...doesn't do much for "my look." :)

These past few days I have been marveling at how I got so lucky to marry such a wonderful man. Because our courtship was quick and I moved to Texas after a whopping 8 dates and a weekend visit, many of the people I love don't know my husband the way I wish they did...so--I know he won't love this, but...--I wanted to share some of the things he does that show how sweet he is. I am so not worthy...

• He always gets out of bed before me (usually an hour or two before me unless I'm teaching seminary that morning) and he'll often take my empty or half-empty water bottle by the bed and refill it or replace it so that when I wake up, I have cold water to drink.
• When I go to the bathroom in the morning, I'll often come out to find he has already fixed the bed or started to fix the bed.
• Usually while I am still in bed, I can hear him in the kitchen doing the dishes. I often think, "Oh no...there he goes again," and think I wish I were more helpful, but pregnancy really has worn me out, so I usually just go back to sleep thinking about how nice he is.
  
• He kisses me and tells me he loves me all the time--so many times in a day that there is no way I could count them from memory.
• He does his own laundry.
• He often helps me hang up my clean laundry.
• I've gained so much weight since I've gotten pregnant (disproportionate for how far along I am), so that I feel really frumpy and ugly a lot, but my sweet husband still tells me that he thinks I'm beautiful and treats me in such a way that I know he means it. He makes me feel as if he still finds me totally attractive...and although I'll look in the mirror and my messy hair, tired eyes, and round body, I know he loves me and does find me attractive.
  
• I make the same mistakes over and over again and they often impact him (still late to everything...), but he is really patient.
• I have been so emotional since getting pregnant and although I know my level of intensity with my emotions often overwhelms him, he is still so sweet and kind and still listens to me and my complaining.
• Every two weeks we give ourselves individual allowances to spend how ever we would like. I usually spend my allowance on me...and several times, that sweet, sweet boy I married has also spent his allowance on me or on doing things for me. He is so much more thoughtful and selfless than I am.
  

He is not me so I don't feel I have any claim on this good behavior. I am just the lucky, lucky recipient.

I feel so blessed, but because I know that God loves all his children, I know that this blessing I have of being married to such a wonderful person is not unique to me. I truly believe it is something that each of God's children will eventually have if they seek it. They will receive it when God knows it is right according to his plan for them. I was 33 years old before my husband and I even went on our first date. For years I thought I knew what I wanted and what I needed and I had wished I could find the right person for me...and then suddenly, at the age of 33, 14 years after meeting my husband for the first time, the time was right, we were both ready, and it all came together so quickly. He is more than I would have ever chosen for myself. He is so much better and so perfect for me.

And although I remember the loneliness I would sometimes feel in quiet moments of my single life and although I still remember in a logical way what it felt like to experience the pain and anguish of numerous heartbreaks, now that I'm married to Ty, it all has just come together and makes sense. All those past pains seem swallowed up and I can see them for what they were--tutorials and preparation for me to be able to recognize the blessing when it came and to be willing and able to do my part to make it blossom. (Sweet Ty, I had written this paragraph generically, but then I rewrote it using I statements. :) I'm learning...)

I love my Heavenly Father and I'm so grateful he sent me Ty.