Happy 12th Anniversary to us!

 12 years ago today I made the best decision of my life

and married my amazing husband!

The past 12 years have been filled with every emotion possible.

I've decided I'm going to name 12 of my favorite things about Trent

1.    His love for the Lord and wanting to follow His direction.

2.    Trent's ability to love me in spite of all my many imperfections.

3.    Trent's love for all his children.

4.    I love that he puts my wants and needs above his own.

5.    That he will let me bug the crap out of him and literally poke him when I'm in a slap happy mood.

6.    That he is so willing to run up the stairs to get something for me just because I'm too lazy to go upstairs.

7.    He stays up late talking to me and listening to all the dumb stuff I say.

8.    That he will be silly and just have fun with our kiddos.

9.    How he looks at me and I can just see how much he loves me and our life we have built together.

10.     His willingness to fulfill all me pregnant and non pregnant cravings that I get.

11.    Changing careers so he can support our family.

12.    Staying connected to us even though he is physically gone for weeks at a time.

Here is what 12 things he loves about me.

1.    I love the wisdom and concern for right and wrong I see in her as she adjudicates squabbles and give necessary discipline.

2.     I love the fact that I never wonder where I stand with her or how she's feeling about something. She lets me see her as she is.

3.    I love how she and I can disagree and still feel like we're on the same team. We can always work through issues, and I don't feel like I have to hide what I want, or need, or what I am thinking. This is only possible because I trust her deeply, and because we both know we have each other's backs.

4.     I love seeing her laugh. I get to see that often because our kiddos entertain her on a regular basis with some of the hilarious things they do and say each day. I get to see her laugh her head off, and I consider that joy to be partial reimbursement for those frequent moments when she does so at my expense.

5.    I love her for jumping at the chance to take care of me. If  I need something for my cooler in the truck, she's on her way to the store and will even go out of her way to meet me so I can see her and the kids.

6.    I love and am grateful for her being my "laundry fairy" - making clean clothes and bedding and dinner magically appear. She works hard to take care of us.

7.    I love her and respect her deeply for fighting on the home front by herself so much of the time. I've traded places with her just often enough to know it's not easy, what she does for us. I'm committed to making sure she won't have to do that for much longer.

8.    I love having quiet times with her, just the two of us watching a show together, interrupted only by the telltale slurping sound from her cup- my cue to make another unbidden run to the refrigerator for her. Don't forget the cheese stick Trent!

9.     I love feeling free to be myself with her.

10.    I love her for accepting me the way I am, farts-uh, I mean... warts included.

11.    I love her for her genuine, pure and pervasive goodness. She has a heart of gold and the soul of an angel. There's not a vicious or mean-spirited bone in her body. She claims to have weaknesses, but I don't know what they are.

12.    I love the light in her eyes and the fun in her expression. Whether we're heading somewhere with the kids or staying home for family movie night, life with my Shelley girl is always an adventure!