Let me count the ways...
You know what they say the difference is between a couple who doesn't stay together and one that does? The couple who stayed together........
JUST KEPT TRYING.
Although there's a million and one reasons why I love Bob, here's a list of 14 in celebration of 14 years of TRYING!
1. He likes to be needed, and boy does this girl need him.
2. His family is his priority, and we know this.
3. He's smart but would never be condescending or make anyone feel "dumb."
4. He calls me several times a day. His upbeat, chipper voice is a bright spot in my day.
5. He perceives us as a team and takes part and helps me with EVERYTHING.
6. He hides sweet notes for me to find every time he goes out of town.
7. He is a much better cook than myself and makes dinner often.
8. He enjoys life and works hard to make ours FUN.
9. He is a good friend and would do anything for others.
10. He's hot......just sayin'.
11. He is witty and funny and makes me laugh daily.
12. He loves my family and never judges us in spite of our many inadequacies.
13. He sets lofty goals, and I enjoy watching him achieve them.
14. He goes the extra mile on my birthday and holidays to make me feel special, and most importantly.......loves my ridiculous, dramatic, nerdy self!
Bob and I celebrated 14 years of BIG LOVE last week. These pics. were taken in easier times when we celebrated an anniversary by aimlessly roaming the streets of downtown Boise. After dining at our favorite restaurant and purchasing a few things at our favorite downtown shop, we retired to a little bench outside a local bar and listened for free, to the live music blaring from it's doors. We did our fare share of people watching before Mr. "no display of public affection" let me make out with him on that bench, a couple of long kisses without a word of complaint. It doesn't take much to please this girl, and that night on the bench without a care in the world, laughing and smooching Bob, is one I love to remember.
We're currently living in a tunnel, at least that's how it feels when you're up most of the night with a newborn. You know long, dark nights and tiresome days while the rest of the world goes on around you. Because of this neither Bob nor I had mentioned a thing about our anniversary, and seriously, I was hoping, crossing my fingers tightly, that somehow overly tired Bob would forget. I wanted him to be completely surprised when he came home to a romantic dinner, a house without kids, and a night to ourselves. I wanted to give him a gift he had been without for weeks, needed desperately, and would have paid top dollar for.........SLEEP!
With the help of amazing, selfless friends, I pulled it off. One took the older kids all night, and the other took Max. Although we ended up missing the kids and wondered really if we could leave Max till' the next morning, at 10 p.m. we forgoed driving to get him and relished in a night of uninterrupted sleep.
14 years later, I love Bob more today than ever. I know how ridiculously cliche that last sentence sounds. But, there's truth in that old cliche. As we grow older and wiser we realize love is so much more than physical attraction or simple, good times in a relationship. Love is what lasts. Love is what is left after all the ups and downs, trials, and rough times. Love is why and how we stay together, it is what sustains us. At least it is for me, because believe me I've had my moments of extreme frustration when I've felt like throwing in the towel. There's been times when Bob and my differences seem overwhelming and because of them I've selfishly thought we just couldn't make it. But I never quit, because I LOVE him. The good times most certainly outweigh the bad and even though in no way, shape, or form is our marriage perfect, I believe LOVE is. It's an action, and it isn't always easy, but continuing to TRY makes it worth it in so many ways. And I've grown to realize over the last 14 years, LOVING Bob has made me a much better person.
So, next year we'll celebrate our big 15th. It will be interesting to see where life takes us, and how this next year will unfold. Until then, I vow to do two things, LOVE him.....
and JUST KEEP TRYING!
