Wedding Day Thankfulness

Today is my wedding day.

I never in a million years imagined I would be walking down the aisle less then a year after separation and subsequent divorce from my high school sweetheart. But God had amazing plans for me to bring this wonderful man back into my life. He has been everything that I needed and didn't realize.

At six thirty tonight, pray for our union. I honestly believe that Stephen is God's answer to my prayers. I am so very grateful He didn't make me wait years for him.

So today, on the day I will take him as my husband, I am going to write about a few of the reasons I am thankful for this man's presence in my life.

1. I am thankful that he is a Godly man. Together we can grow closer to God which will bring us closer together. I really love this model (see right) as we grow closer to God, we will grow closer together. I think that is super important that we share our faith and can grow together. 
2. I am thankful that he is compassionate. He honestly cares about people. In Oregon he was working in a care facility and the residents and their families just loved him. It is obvious he cares by the way he interacts with them. 
3. I am thankful that he is flexible. Not every person would move a state away from all their family, even for someone they loved. But Stephen had no hesitation saying yes to moving here. He understood that my girls needed to be close to their father. I am so very grateful he didn't argue at all about this, it made it so much easier on me. 
4. I am thankful that he is romantic. He tells me all the time he loves me and shows me with flowers and cards. I am one of those people who needs those acts of love and he seems to know that and gives it to me. He speaks my love language! 
5. I am thankful he had an amazing sense of humor. Sometimes he just makes me laugh. Seems to know just when I need it and helps lighten my mood. He also knows when I don't need it, and doesn't make jokes when they aren't needed. 
6. I am thankful that he is good with my girls. There is always a worry, going into a new relationship, that they won't deal with your children very well. But the interactions he has had with my girls have been perfect. He defers the discipline to me but isn't afraid to tell them when they are out of line. He gets down on the floor and plays with them, reads to them and just loves on them. I know my girls have an amazing father but I think it's always great to have more people who love you. My girls know that Stephen loves them and will be there for them. 
7. I am thankful that he is able to deal with my lists. As I have said before, I am a list maker and this wedding planning and move have been a big challenge for me. Especially since he is in a whole other state (as is the wedding!). Needless to say, I have been making a lot of lists. I have lists for everything you can imagine. He has not only dealt with my lists, but embraced that processing side of me. I could make him a "to do" list and know that he would take care of things. He even mentioned during our pre-marital counseling that he liked my lists. I just loved hearing that! 
8. I am thankful he enjoys to cook! If you haven't heard before, I am not much of a cook, nor am I very adventurous in the kitchen. He is and I am so looking forward to having someone else to help in the kitchen. :D 
9. I am thankful he isn't one of those men who believes in sharing the roles in the household. There aren't things he won't do because they are "women's work." He is perfectly willing (and even has while visiting!) cleaned up around the house. 
10. I am thankful that he loves me. Often I don't feel very lovable. I get cranky, I have lots of flaws, but it seems like he doesn't even see them. He sees me as this beautiful woman and he isn't shy about telling me. I am so very grateful for that. He makes me feel beautiful in times where I really don't. 

So there you have it. Ten things about my very soon to be husband (11.5 hours!!!) that I am thankful for. 

1000 Gifts: Three gifts  ugly beautiful

• my tears. I am not a pretty crier. But He sees my tears, counts them even! It is such a gift to know that about my Heavenly Father. 
• The rain. It makes the day just ugly (in my personal opinion!) But without it, the world would be ugly. Not to mention that beautiful smell and the way things look after the rain. 
• This is going to sound horrible, but I think McKayla's teeth are ugly beautiful. They look funny right now, missing a few, have a few "grown up" teeth and quite a few baby teeth. But she has the most beautiful smile. Her whole face lights up. Just love it!