love letter

I don't believe I have many bragging-on-my-husband posts. That's not because he is not worthy of bragging. It's simply because, until now, I have been too shy to post one. I'm afraid someone might sneer at me. And I know that you know why. You might do it, too just a little bit, if you aren't careful. No one likes a Braggy-Becky. (Get it? Like a Chatty-Cathy, except... yeah, you're all very smart people, I know.) Anyways, I just think my hunk-of-a-man-spouse deserves recognition today. So here it goes. Here's my love letter to him for all to see, because hey, I have listened to that one Rascal Flats song a bajillion and one times, and baby, "I learned to love you out loud! Woo!"

Dear Clint,


Remember on Tuesday how it was my day for the shopping in the Kroger? And how you came to find me and surprise me with a Big Drink because you know how much I dislike the Kroger, only to discover I had gone to a different Kroger? Well, then you know how you called me and eventually had to explain your plot to me because you couldn't find me at the usual Kroger and needed to make sure I didn't re-buy the deli meat you had just waited in line at the ridiculously slow deli-counter for? I stood there, cart handle clutched in one hand and phone in the other, listening to you reluctantly reveal the surprise you had so sneakily contrived for me, and I cried. Right there in the middle of the aisle. I could see you roaming the aisles of that other Kroger with the deli meat and the Big Drink. I could feel your excitement, knowing that in just a second you would sneak up behind me, wrap your arms around me, and make me smile so big that it would fill even the dark corners between the 50 lb bags of dog food with the light of happiness.You had left the house to do this despite all the work you have to do. Despite the fact that you don't really have the time to help me grocery shop and won't until you retire after years and years and hundreds of patients. I could see it all. I could feel all that love. I just wasn't there to give it back to you. I wasn't there to smile that big smile and hug you the tightest.


So you put that Big Drink in the freezer. It was waiting when I got home. You were there studying at the desk--the one I had been so excited to get all prepped for you this Summer--even though I know you prefer to be out at the dining room table. You were reading lots and lots of words.  Words that I know sometimes frustrate you, but you keep reading them, because you understand that those words will build and build on each other until they've formed a nice career, a college fund for our children, a house to grow in.



Everything you give. Nothing you would take.


You amaze me. I've had friends in the past that thought I was dumb to get married so young. Dumb to marry you so soon. But I knew what I was doing. I was more sure of you than I had been of anything else in my life to that point. Thank you for being everything you promised to be when you got down on one knee in that alley behind the climbing walls. For being everything I prayed for every night when I was a little girl, planning out my happily ever after. And thank you for allowing me to grow into the woman I promised you I would be when I put your ring on my left hand.


Life is hard. It's not fair. But it's beautiful with you in it. It's doable. It's worth every second. And it's fun. A whole lot of fun.


I love you.