In Praise of My Better Half

Tonight I need to write a little about my husband.   He is my best friend, and I have been so caught up in the chaos of the last few weeks that I haven’t had much time to reflect on what a huge blessing that he is.

Casey is a man who truly seeks to honor, love and cherish me, his wife.   He constantly goes out of his way to praise me, lift me up, encourage me, humor me, challenge me and protect me.   During the week before my miscarriage, when I was bleeding and trying to rest, he took nearly the whole week off work to be there for Kenny, so I could be off my feet.   He cooked, walked Dudley, folded laundry and took care of all that needed to be done.   Then the week after I miscarried, he did the same.   But more than that, he held me while I cried, and sometimes cried with me.    He let me talk about it as much or as little as I wanted (and still does).   He fielded calls from friends and relatives, and went with me to all of my doctor’s visits and checkups.

So you might say that he was a hero for me during our recent tragedy.   But he’s not just an occasional hero.   He walks in the door every night with open arms, letting Kenny tackle him, and letting me cook dinner without a one-year-old clasping my legs.   He spends his weekends hanging out at the park, or going on walks, instead of hitting the golf course or watching the Big Game.   He rubs my head and massages my shoulders when he knows I’ve had a rough day.   He bathes Kenny every night, and then goes on a wild hunt through the dark house with a flashlight for Kenny’s “Baa” (a stuffed sheep) with him every night before bedtime.   He surprises me with little gifts and he calls me just to say hi even when he’s busy at work.   He spends time reading the Bible at night, and initiates time for us to pray together.   Today when I mentioned that I needed some new clothes, he talked through what I wanted and then “commanded” me to go shopping!   (He said, I don’t want anyone calling you “KMart Kristjana.   Get good stuff!”)   He enjoys going out to fancy breakfasts instead of dinners, so that our time out is easier with Kenny.   He gets up in the middle of the night when Dudley whines to go out.   He picks up the dog poop in the back yard, and takes out the trash.

He is an amazing man.   On top of all that I mentioned, he is successful and respected at work, and in return works hard for what he has achieved.   And in the midst of a high-level job, he has managed to move us to Arizona for two winters in a row now, to protect me from my Renauds Syndrome (which is very debilitating to me in cold weather – my hands swell into red sausages and are extremely painful).   He plans crazy vacations  for us, and dreams about all that is in store for our future together.   He is practical about investing for the future, and generous about having fun with what we’re blessed to have.   He delights in giving money away, too, and we dream together about what we could do for other people if someday we woke up rich.

He puts toothpaste on my toothbrush in the morning, and remembers to bring me a water bottle at bedtime, in case I wake up thirsty.   He raves about my cooking and compliments me when the house looks nice.   He encourages my writing, and always remembers to read my blog.   He tells me I’m pretty and flirts with me everyday.

I think if I were to sit down and write out all the things I wanted in a man, I still couldn’t include as many qualities as Casey already has.   I am in awe of him.   And I just needed to write about that.

I love you, Casey!!!