The love of my life.

Six years ago this month, I walked down the aisle towards the man that I knew God had hand-picked for me. Today...I am even more assured of it. And here, just for the fun of it, are some of the reasons why I love him like I do.

1. He knows at least a little bit about everything. For instance: The reason why those little birds always seem to be dive-bombing the big ones. The details of World History. The names of the different types of farm machines, and their uses. The names of every type of tree...and their uses. Politics. How to build a house from ground up. How to kill and prepare a turkey dinner. What bear meat tastes like. You know, the things that really matter. Comes in handy when the girls ask all sorts of random questions as we drive down the road.

2. He can parallel park the largest moving van there is, WITH a trailer hooked on the back. All without looking behind him. Only using the side mirrors. No joke! Until marrying him, I thought using those mirror thingys were optional, that everybody just looked over their shoulder.

3. He can relate to ALL types of people. Having spent the better half of his life in tight wranglers and belt buckles, he can relate to them there type people. Having married into a family of gym rats, he can relate to those egotistical-type people. Having worked in different career fields...at times owning his own business...he does well with the grouchy-type people, otherwise known as "the consumer." He's just genuinely a NICE guy who most people like dealing with.

4. He's not afraid to try something. Hence the 4 years he spent riding bulls. And the marrying into my family. ;)

5. I truly believe him when he says he LIKES the fact that I am 15 lbs heavier than I was before this last baby. Yet, he cheers me on as I exercise it off. And he doesn't give me "the look" when I eat a cookie.

6. He can laugh at himself. And me. (note: he does NOT do #5 and #6- part b simulanteously)

7. He can fix everything known to man. Cars. Appliances. Houses and everything about them. Dirty diapers. A lamb getting ready to deliver a breech baby. The hole in his little girl's dress. Snakes that need to be killed. A five course meal. ...seriously, he can do all that. In fact, I'm yet to find something that he can't do.

8. He has a way about him that makes his little girls feel special. I can't put it into words, except to say that my girls are always asking me to go away, so that they can have "Daddy time."

9. He spent time putting together a music CD for me. With all sorts of country songs. As a surprise. The sappy love ones, not the ones bemoaning their dead dogs and broken gee-tars.

10. He listens when I tell him that something bothers me. And does everything in his power to change it.

11. He can come home stressed and tired from a horrendous day at work and see that I'm burnt out. Without a word, he'll gather up ALL three girls and take them out. To the grocery store, if we need something. To the pizza store, if I haven't had time to fix anything. To our backyard, if nothing else. just to give me some alone time.

12. We'll have spent the entire day working outside. And he'll give ME the back massage, even though HE was the one that scraped the roof for hours.

13. He NEVER complains about things that I can't change. Actually he doesn't complain about things that I can change.

14. My parents truly love him and recognize that he is the BEST man for me. (I think they know he's the best man they've ever met, but have come just short of saying it).

15. Even when I've had an especially crazy day with the girls...and I've forgotten to brush my teeth, get out of my pajamas, and put deoderant on...he STILL calls me beautiful.

16. He turns his eyes away if a half-dressed woman comes on the TV screen...or is on the cover of a magazine...OR walks in front of us on the street. He truly has eyes for only me. Because he's trained them that way.
17. Because even though we've been married for almost 6 years, I can say, without hesitation or doubt, that I love him MORE today than I did when I said "I do."

18. I love him because I KNOW this list could go on and on. Because he gives me endless reasons for loving him. On a daily basis.

19. I love him because for some strange reason only known to God, I have captured his heart. And he is devoted to ME.

I only hope that one day my daughters will be as blessed as I am; that they'll find a man like their daddy to call husband and best friend.