Sunday 14 August 2011

My husband

My husband is wonderful. He never ceases to amaze me in everything he does. He loves me with the everyday kind of love everyone longs for. Flowers sit on my table inscribed with "surprise" simply because he felt like it. My back and feet are rubbed without my needing to request it. He hugs and kisses me when he leaves and the same upon return (without fail, even as I sleep). I love you's are written in the steam on the mirror making me smile after a shower. He brushes and braids my hair, brushes hairs out of my face and tells me I am beautiful. He calls me Princess and Sweetie.

He thanks me when I do the simple tasks like dishes, folding laundry and vacuuming. He cleans up toys, stays home with the kids as I grocery shop in silence and wears our babies to give me a break. He kisses minor cuts and bruises while asking if I am ok. We watch chick flicks, play card games and cuddle on the couch. At night he crawls into the kids' beds with me just so he doesn't have to go to bed without me. He kisses me goodnight. He is my best friend.

He sends me "I miss you notes" when one of us is gone. He never puts me down - especially when I deserve it. He defends me, holds me tight when I'm sad and wipes away my tears. He kept our high school love notes and admires our wedding rings as we sit together. He scrubs my back in the shower (even though he knows I can reach). He looks into my eyes and tells me he loves me. He tapes my shows, tells me my stretch marks are beautiful and calls me pretty when I think I look my worst.

He prays for me, gets me ice cream with various toppings, and holds an umbrella so I don't get wet. He listens to me, ohs and ahs over my latest wrap, puts his arm around me in church, and kisses my cheek. He brushes off the car in the snow, makes me breakfast and lets me sleep in. He buys me sweet treats, tells me I am a great mom and talks about when we get old. He shares his pop (when I just said I did not want one), says I am hot and holds my hand. He forgives me instantly when I mess up - even when I find it hard to forgive myself.

He makes me smile, sigh and relax. He gives me strength, hope and determination. After 10 years together and almost 7 married he still amazes me with his love for me.

He loves me like God loves us and it is nothing short of awesome to be a part of this God given marriage.

~ Carly

Thursday 4 August 2011

The things that matter

We are blessed. There are those blessings that everyone can see. We have wonderful kids and a great marriage. Then there are those some can't see. We squeeze the 5 people and 5 pets into a 3 bedroom townhouse - and we are blessed. Our van is missing half a bumper, air conditioning and has a ghetto style vcr with a 6 inch screen - and we are blessed. Our income is at poverty line and we have $50,000 in school debt for educations that are not (yet?) used - and we are blessed. Our bbq is rusted to the point that one day it will fall over, we have a window a/c in one room, we live in the ghetto - and we are blessed.

You see, life has a funny way of tricking us. It tells us that it matters to have an education, a "good" job, the big pretty house on the right side of the tracks. We need two cars, vacations and gadgets. Gym memberships, the movie network, satellite radio.

I have realized it doesn't matter. The house, the car, the fancy degrees in the frames on my wall, and the tv don't matter. What matters is what we do with it and the relationships we form or break in the process. Are they a status symbol or a way to help others? What good is it all when it isn't helping others. What good is it if it isn't bringing glory to God?

Often I get questioned on my desire for these things. Don't I want "better" for our family? We work hard, don't we deserve a (insert item/trip here)? Will we have these things? Likely one day, but we also know it is not what life is about. I need to constantly remind myself throughout the years that these things are not what matters. The size of my house and the places I have sun-tanned do not change the world or my eternal destination. They are not what matters.

~Carly