Happy 9th Anniversary

This is Julie writing.  I’ve hacked into Hubby’s account to post for him.  Today is our ninth anniversary.  I think I'm supposed to buy him pottery to celebrate today.  However, I think words affirm him much more than clay.  So I'm going to brag on him a bit.  

I’m the luckiest girl on the earth.  He didn't know what he was getting into when he asked me THE question nine years ago.  It should have tipped him off when I said I wanted to get married in a barn.  I'm a little silly sometimes and had my fair share of harebrained ideas.

Enough about me!  At the top of this blog, you’ll see a four part mission statement.  I’m going to expose how he’s doing.

To love one woman faithfully. 

After nine years of marital bliss, I’m looking forward to the next nine (and beyond!)  John is intentional in our relationship and treats me with such kindness I sometimes want to pinch myself to see if I’m living in a fairy tale.  This doesn’t mean that he’s perfect.  He is  often quick to ask forgiveness when he’s wrong.  His humility points me to Jesus in ways that I don’t see in others.

Something that speaks HUGE love to me is acts of service.  He can clean the kitchen like nobodies' business.  He's also quite a handyman. (He's learned a lot from the 3 remodels houses we've owned. ) Of his own confession, John would tell you that he doesn’t particularly enjoy home projects, but he does them.  It save us LOTS of money (and makes me really happy!)  I stand in awe at his diligence to solve problems.  

Late night chocolate runs. Enough said.

He loves me faithfully.  He prays with me every night.  

To be intentional with my son. 

When John is home, he’s really home.  What I mean is, he is singly focused at the task at hand: to be with us, his family.  He consciously says no to a lot of things so that he can spend time at home.

For this, I am so thankful.  Mr Intensity (our son’s bloggy name on my blog) requires demands a lot of attention.  John is so good to wrestle with the boy.  Mommas aren’t so good at being rough; I like to cuddle.

Twice a week, John is faithful to lead our family in worship...which is no small task with an active 4 year-old.  John thinks through and shares stories that would penetrate Mr. Intensity’s heart.

My favorite way John is intentional with our son?  Bedtime routine, solo.  He earns a congressional medal of honor for that.

To live with integrity.

I admire his diligence to wake early and spend time with the Lord.  Everyday.  Really early.  He’s the real deal, y’all.  He loves Jesus with his heart, mind, soul and strength.  And John is really strong.  

As you probably know he works from home.  John works heartily as unto the Lord from 8-5 isolated in our bedroom.  Well, he does emerge at lunch and for an occasional drink or snack!  I’ve been super impressed with his concentration and perseverance.  If had to work from home like him, I would play hookie a few hours or days a week.

 

John is such a man of integrity, occasionally he takes the opportunity to teach integrity to neighborhood boys.  It would be easy enough to let the rowdy boys slip but he calls them out, speaks truth to them and points them to something higher.

To do the right thing. 

Two months ago, we discovered mold under our kitchen cabinets.  I would have been easy to replace only the boards that showed water from the outside.  But that would not have been the right thing.  He replaced every single board.  He did the project right.  He did unto others (who hopefully will buy our house soon!) what he would want them to do to him.

Since early summer, a friend of his has been walking through a painful trial.  John has been faithful to talk with that friend - frequently - sometimes several HOURS a week.  It has blessed my soul to watch John minister (and pray) so fervently.

He is One Man Trying.  He is making a difference in the world.  I’m so glad to be married to him.