Happy Anniversary...to us!

Jake and I just celebrated our fourth anniversary on June 24th and for my own family "history" purposes I decided to list all the main reasons I fell in love with my wonderful husband (and some of the reasons that I may not have realized fully until I have been married to him for awhile), so while this may seem cliche or sappy, it will hopefully be something special our children can read so they can learn more about their parents' relationship someday--and feel free to skip this entry! :0)

In no particular order--

1. Jake is especially selfless.
We will be walking across a parking lot somewhere and I will be involved in my normal chattiness and suddenly Jake will just walk off. I will be all offended that he's not even paying attention to me, when I FINALLY notice some elderly lady trying to load her groceries into her trunk and Jake is over there doing it for her. Just one example. There are so many examples of just little, seeminly meaningless things that he does that show how he puts others before himself. Another example (in which I'm actually really ashamed of my attitude during the whole episode, but have to share because it shows why I love Jake so much) was when we were on our way to something really important that we would barely make it on time to and as we were driving along Highway 93, Jake noticed someone off the road buried in the snowdrift in the borrow pit. So, Jake pulls over, knowing we are going to be late (and dealing with my attitude--"Jake just call the police and tell them where the people are, they can come help and we won't have to be late!"). He offered to go to my Dad's and see if they could get a tractor to get the people out (we have a four-wheel drive, but the roads were so slick Jake was afraid if we pulled their car out, we would slide all over and cause a big pile-up on the highway), but the guy said he had already contacted the police. Jake even offered to stay and wait with them. Again, these are just small samples of the DAILY things he does to make life a little easier for others.

2. Jake is patient.
Just living with me proves that! I, as most know, am quite a perfectionist, and can sometimes be demanding. Jake, however, is infinitely patient, with both me and Jackson, and I honestly have never heard him yell. (He IS stubborn and will stand his ground in a rock-solid type of way, but he's so dang calm about it!).

3. Jake is not critical of others.
Over the time I've known Jake and been married to him, I have never heard him say anything bad or negative about anyone (unless it's liberal politicians, but I don't count that :) ). Even if someone hurts him, or does things Jake doesn't approve of or agree with, he always makes sure he mentions something positive, or he gives them the benefit of the doubt (..."well, he's just grown up with a really rough life, so that sort of thing can be expected" or "...well, you've got to understand what so-and-so has been through--you'd be that way too, if you had to go through that..."). And if I ever mention anything not-so-nice about someone, he always bounces back with a positive attribute of that person.

4. Jake is generous (with money, love, time...)
Once, when Jake had like 50 dollars to his name, and a friend needed to borrow money for his family, Jake gave him all the cash he had left and told me his friend needed it worse than he did.

5. Jake doesn't worry about what others think.
He is the same way in church, softball, with family, at work...he doesn't pretend to be anything different than who he is, and he's all the more respected because of it.

6. Jake is sensitive.
Jake notices when others are having a hard time and is quick to respond any way he can. He is also careful about how he says things, which is nice, and makes others around him feel comfortable.

7. Jake is laid-back.
Thank goodness, because we could not have two "me's" in this family. Where I panic or push or demand, he waits, is calm, and just quietly goes about taking care of business.

8. Jake is an AWESOME dad!
I have rarely seen a father, especially a fairly new, young father, be as involved as Jake is with Jackson. The love he has for Jackson (and our little girl on the way!) and the obvious pride he has in Jackson is amazing and such a blessing!

9. Jake is loyal.
Even when people come and go in his life, he always considers them friends (or family) despite anything they may have done and is quick to welcome them back into his life when they are ready. He is truly a forgiving and loyal person.

10. Jake is loving.
It sounds so cliche, but his actions speak it loud and clear and I'm so, so thankful for it!

I feel so greatly blessed to have been given such a wonderful husband, best friend, and partner in life and am fully aware that I don't deserve him. I pray that God will continue to bless Jake's life as much as he blesses all of us!