To My Husband
Today my sweetheart and I have been married for eight years, but he could tell you embarrassing stories of me from long before when he knew me as a youth. We lived in the same home town, grew up with each other’s families, banded together in singles ward, and have had many adventures since. He knows me in ways that no one else could ever know me, and is as familiar and comforting as home.
My husband is amazing, and I’ll tell you why. I believe that in a happy marriage relationship it’s rarely ever 50-50, perfectly even in effort and consideration. It’s each person giving their all, whatever they have or stepping up and doing more until the math really blows up and you give 100-100. This year “my all” seemed pathetic, and my husband pulled out the big guns to carry us through. This year we’ve met many challenges together, most notably bringing a third child into our family. My pregnancy was not the easiest; as a matter of fact, it was our most difficult yet if I’m honest.
There were many things I could not do, and I relied on him heavily in tasks as simple as vacuuming the floor, to his basically being a single Dad to our two eldest children while I laid in bed all day with morning sickness and a cold. He even made his spaghetti without onions (akin to blasphemy) because I was suffering from food aversions.
It seemed like I was always getting sick at the most inconvenient times, like Christmas Eve when my entire side of the family arrived to stay with us and he entertained and hosted all by himself. He was my comfort and strength through the anxiety and uncertainty of a high risk pregnancy. He was there for the roller coaster ride that culminated in a life-threatening labor and miraculous delivery.
Together we survived another nice long stay at the NICU and taking our third preemie baby home. He took the kids to the pool or the water park or the splash pad every day—no small or easy task—so I could be at the hospital to hold our baby and practice breastfeeding. He assembled, moved, and reassembled the bunk bed 4 times up until the baby came home so we’d have a nursery. He held me through my sleep-deprived baby blues breakdown as I cried uncontrollably in the bathroom, “I can’t do this! Oh my Gosh, I can’t do it!” over and over again. He gave his time and rest so I could have them instead. I know that I’m not the only one who sacrifices for our babies because he’s right there with me every step of the way. All this on top of teaching (one of the most demanding and emotionally draining jobs that he’s absolutely passionate about), faithfully performing his calling in Scouts, and as a home teacher.
I’m the most blessed woman to have him by my side holding my hand and making me laugh through this crazy and wonderful life. This year is dedicated to the most amazing man I know, the love of my life, my Jeremy. May next year be much easier!
