A Few of My Favorite Things... 'Bout Him!

**WARNING!! SAPPY, GOOEY, OOEY, STUFF ENCLOSED** READ AT YOUR OWN RISK
.

Last night younger child said to me, "You too are like OOEY, GOOEY, MUSHY kind of people now!" YEAH!

.

She said this because I was heading out to Bible study and realized I had not had a good long embrace and kiss from my hubs since picking him up from work yesterday. So, he offered me a peck on the cheek and I said, "Oh No, No, No."
.
I put my arm around his waist and said, "We have not had our hug today."
.
He said, "Oh well that's cause you been busy running here and there." (TRUE!)
.
So we snuggled up in a big hug and exchanged a few sweet kisses and soft words of affection while Taylor let the dog out the back door. She said, "Ya'll are going to be all mushy now aren't you."
.
She then reframed that statement. "I mean, in a good way."
.
I love it. I reminded her this is what a healthy relationship looks like when you have a license for it.
.
I was all warm and fuzzy as I stepped out into the cool night to make my way to Bible study.
.
NUGGET FROM BIBLE STUDY: Taken from the story of Gideon in Judges 7 - Spiritual Battle begins with WORSHIP! Now there is a truth that will set you free. (We are "BREAKING FREE" by the way.)
.
I love that man of mine. I returned home to find him reading the book I bought him over the weekend and settled down to resume my task of learning to master Sudoku puzzles. I finished two all by my lonesome last night - WOO! HOO! Small to you, big to me... So deal with it.
.
So as Valentine's Day comes upon us I want to tell you a few of my favorite things about that MAN of Mine:
.
1. My husband prefers warmer climates to colder ones. And... when it comes to him, SO DO I. We officially met in June and began our journey of love in those HOT, TEXAS SUMMER DAYS. He often would come down after work. My hubs has always been a construction, work outdoors, sweat a lot kind of guy. I must tell you that when he comes in from work and hugs my neck, I get all warm inside. His smell is almost intoxicating. It is a mixture of sweat, laundry soap, cologne and deodorant. It is most definitely uniquely him and it is one of my favorite smells in the whole wide world.
.
2. That he never leaves the house without kissing me goodbye. (Second: That these days I'm awake to receive them.) But whether or not I'm conscious for the kissing, he is faithful to wish me well with a sweet kiss goodbye.
.
3. The way he looks at me. His eyes were very nearly the first thing I noticed once I started to get to know him. I have written before that he has mood eyes, but in those early days they were that sweet amorous color I have grown to fondly call -"The Color of Fresh Sliced Limes." His eyes on me can make me melt in a second. Maybe less.
.
4. The way he looks [PERIOD]. I remember before we even met, and before I knew who he was... He used to swagger around in his hat, his Ws and his boots and I would think... He is just another heartthrob cowboy who'll break a heart in a second and move on. I did not know this man would not even dare ask a woman to dance - but dance with any woman who asked him. I didn't ask. Nevermind the details... I can tell you that the first time we danced together it was because HE, yes, I'll say it again, He asked me. :o) I found my walking, talking dream man in this fella' and I was sure it wouldn't last. As he said after taking the Five Love Languages test, "SURPRISE!" I tell him all the time I loved him all my life... Even before we met he is the man I loved in my dreams.
.
5. His hand in mine or at the small of my back. In Hope Floats, Birdie is describing how being with her soon-to-be ex-husband, Bill, made her feel safe. She said, "The way he'd look at me with his eyes, and the way he would put his hand on the small of my back and guide me through a room... It made me feel so safe." Being close to Scott always makes me feel safe. I love it when he takes the lead and even if he lets me walk in front of him - he shows me the way with a quiet reminder of his hand upon my back. It is the sweetest feeling in the world.
.
6. And while I'm at it... my favorite sound in the whole world is when I lay my head on his chest and listen to the strength of his heartbeat.
.
7. That he has been patiently teaching me to "see" the numbering patterns in Sudoku puzzles. He even checks my answers and lets me figure out what I did wrong! I love it.
.
8. WHEN HE PRAYS. This morning he prayed so sweetly to the Lord. We've been at this every morning since the first of the year and the progression of his prayers has touched deep places inside of me. His children are on a prodigal excursion right now and we are praying for them... He asks the Lord to continue the work He is doing in their lives. I told him this morning, "You are asking by faith for something that you cannot see is happening but believe He is doing anyway." Oh how the Lord grows us up! I'm marvelling at the beautiful way He is working in my man's life and through his prayers. GLORY TO GOD! Thank you, Lord so much for giving me a man like Scott who is willing to learn to be the man You have called him out, set him apart and ordained him to be. I love him, so... and You, too.
.
9. His Warrior Spirit. My man likes to conquer and not just conquer but to WIN! I almost nagged that warrior spirit right out of him, until I realized God gave him that spirited determination - he gave it really to all men, but so few of them thrive in it anymore. I want him to be the warrior in Christ he is called to be. He is our provider, our protector, and he has been assigned the role of Priest for this family, Prophet for our household and King of our Home. He is learning to exercise his dominion well under the leadership and authority of Christ.
.
10. When He says I love you. I am going to include in this when he writes it as well. Almost more so when he writes because I know writing comes so much harder for him. Yesterday's email subject line was: "What if you did not have nail fungus?"
.
Okay... That may not be the most romantic thing in the world, but it is funny. He swears to me he typed in "good morning" and the computer ate his words and regurgitated them as "What if you did not have nail fungus?" But I have my suspicions that he was just being funny since we are seeking a treatment for that very thing on his feet. Things that make you go HMMM! I print out his emails and post them around my desk so I can read them throughout the day. They are one of the sweetest things.
.
That's my top then things that I just treasure about my man. How about you? What are some things you favor about that man of yours?
.
BONUS: A few years ago, my hubs and I were members of a small group at our old church. One night we did the "EMPTY CHAIR" encouragement exercise. I was reluctant to do the turn in the chair 'cause I never quite feel comfortable receiving affirmation.
.
The goal was to sit in the chair with your back to the group and then each one would take a turn to say one word or phrase of encouragement or they could identify one positive thing you bring to the group. It seemed like that night each person who sat in the chair was acknowledged by their spouse last. The last member to sit in the chair got to pick the next. When my turn came I wept as I listened to the people I had grown to love, admire and respect the most as my church family called me inspiring and encouraging, deep in the things of God... I could barely stand the words that were spoken because I often feel so unworthy of such accolades. My heart then heard God whisper, "Just listen with your heart."
.
My husband, as seemed to be the unspoken rule, shared last. He said, "Michelle does know a lot about the Bible and she does know a lot about God. But for me, I guess the thing she does the most is she explains it in a way that doesn't make me feel [less than her ]* and helps me understand." (* I don't remember the exact word he used there, so rather than lie - I'll just express what it said to us that night.)

.
I was UNDONE. The most precious words my man ever said actually spoke this to his wife's heart, "It's okay that my wife loves God so much and spends so much time in His Word because what she does helps me."
.
Happy Valentine's Day! Remember Love always, trusts, always protects, always hopes and always perseveres... Love Never Fails. (1 Corinthians 13)