Ben

Honeymoon in Jamaica

April 30, 2005, was our first date.  I initially accepted for the free sushi. Frankly, I was somewhat baffled about why a cute 27-year-old with the world at his fingertips would even be interested in a newly divorced 33-year-old hot mess with two kids. Turns out that he didn’t know any of that until he was already smitten. 

It didn’t take long for me to see that he wasn't just a hot Polynesian I could use as my arm candy.  Ben was extremely smart and insanely funny on top of being nice to look at. We also liked the same things: the beach, John Milton, and cheesecake. He proposed, I said yes, and the rest is history.  

Today marks another year that he continues to stay committed to being married to me despite all my shortcomings and occasional emotional instability. 

In lieu of getting him the traditional 12-year anniversary gift of silk, I am feeding him 50-cent corndogs from Sonic and writing this post (which he will never see because he doesn’t read my blog.)

Here are 10 things I love about Ben:

10.       I love that after a long week of work, he still gets up early on Saturdays to make me breakfast.

9.         I love that he can enter a conversation with anyone and talk intelligently about any topic even though he doesn’t watch sports, the news, or much else on TV.  He knows something about everything!

May 24, 2006

8.         I love that he still opens doors for me.

7.         I love that he listens to my crazy life dreams--like moving to a tropical island to run an orphanage and dog rescue-- and smiles and says that we can do them all.

6.         I love when I get a minor cut or abrasion (and writhe around on the floor like I am dying) that he gets his first-aid kit and doctors my wounds as if they need serious medical attention. 

5.         I love that he can stay calm and rational in moments that send me into a tizzy. 

4.         I love that he never asks me to stop singing and  

             dancing around the house even though I am off 

             key and spastic and it is probably pure torture to endure.

3.         I love that he watches our five kiddos without a word of complaint anytime I want to workout, get my nails done, shop, or have a girls’ night.

2.         I love that he loves Jesus with all his heart.

1.         Have you seen those arms?

The list could go on and on because Ben is patient, loving, kind, and selfless when it comes to being my husband.  I couldn't have dreamed of having a better man to do life with. 

Now if I could only get him to realize that the toilet paper goes over and not under.....

May 19, 2018

...I found him 

whom my soul loveth

Song of Solomon 3:4