Some times you just have to stop and say.....That man of mine. Today is one of those post.
I have known my husband since I was 14. I even have diary post of the day I meet him and where. Funny, I meet him in the city we now live in, even though we both lived in our home town of Austin, Texas at that time. Our age difference of seven years prohibited anything but a friendship to form. He was more like the older brother I didn't have, and I his younger sister.
Flash forward to today. We have been married over 35 years, birthed six children and the grandparents of six small boys. We have lived in five houses over the years, three we owned and two we have rented. We have done the reverse, owned then rented, as our income has rocked up and down. Multiple jobs and changes which redirected the dreams we had in the earlier years of marriage. We have loved each other deeply and also frustrated each other greatly. There are days we couldn't imagine life without the other and days we both wanted to run away from our marriage. I think that is the true definition of marriage.
As our family has increased in numbers, a dream I had from the time I was in my teens, we have also seen our financial resources dry up. This has lead to learning how to live very creatively!!! It also has lead to learning what "living by faith" truly means. May I say, "Yes, God is faithful!" It has also meant that we forgo gift buying for each other in order to buy for our children and grandchildren.
That beings said, however, my husband ALWAYS finds some way to put something under the tree. This year he was the most creative and on point of any year I can remember, therefore, my shout-out to my man.
He took his gift card from his Christmas party, from his boss, and headed to the mall. He entered Barnes and Nobles.
Let's stop there..................this is a man who knows his wife. Yes, by this time you would think he should, but I sometimes wonder.
He proceeded to buy me two of my "dream-to-be" magazines. You see, in my mind I would be a very good business woman. I have always dreamed of being a business woman, even when I was in high school. I dreamed I would own a dance studio. I trained in college to do just that. I was a dance major with a business minor. I took courses in business in order to run my studio. Later, I owned a decorating business while my children were young. Recently I have tried again. All of these helped with income.................none would make me end up in a magazine or on TV. You see...in the midst of this business dream, my real desire of raising a family always trumped the other. Instead of a dance studio, I became a stay-at-home, home school mom. No earthly awards or income, but still the most rewarding job I will ever have. Yet, I still read through the books, magazines, blogs and watch the shows, showing others business successes, and continue to dream...maybe one day.
Because he knows me he picked up the magazines. He also picked up a CD. You see, next to reading I love music. This past year I loved and allowed to sink into my heart, a song by Casting Crowns. Lastly, he went down the mall and bought some perfume. I am not good at keeping or spending money on perfume, but he loves when I smell like something more than household cleaners.
This man...................and I................have been broken together. We have brought our shattered dreams to the table and looked at each other and said...................we are staying together.
I don't tell him enough. I don't acknowledge him enough. Today I shout out to him....I noticed. May you stop and listen to this song, that inspired this post. May you help those around you let go of the unrealistic expectations they hold, that only rob from today. May you see God in all the brokenness, and His promise that He will make beauty from the ashes.
