Still In Love

           Today, I find myself thinking a lot about my wife.  I think she is on my mind today because I miss her.  Life has been full lately.  We do see each other each day but quality time spent together has been at a minimum.  That seems to be a common theme in most “married-with-children” lives.  We spend a lot of time taking kids to soccer practice/games, attending meetings for church/work/school, and any gamut of other things.  We do eat dinner together every night as a family which I value.  She has been quite stressed lately due to work issues, lack of sleep from the never-ending bark of the two pups next door, and not to mention foster care classes and preparation to bring more children into our home.  But, she always seems to make it all work out.  She always puts the pieces together like they were meant to be.

 I have a vague memory of when I first met her at MidAmerica Nazarene University.  She was playing “powder-puff football” on the team my roommate coached.  She would stand around in the huddle across from me just as uninterested as I was to be there.  She did it for her friends.  Little did either of us know that we would end up together someday.  The next time I saw her was on an open dorms night when I asked her and some others where a particular girl’s room was so that I could leave a note and rose in their room to ask them on a date.  Christina was the one who personally escorted me to the room and went as far as to let me in the room to leave the rose.  I remember going back to my room that night and asking Adam (my roommate) what he knew or thought of Christina.  His answer was pretty generic “I think she’s cool, ask her out you big dummy”.  With much anxiety I followed his suggestion, however I felt quite childish in my asking her friends to set the table for me.  When I finally called her and asked her out the answer she gave was a strong and resounding “maybe?”.  What?  All that anxiety and all I get is a “maybe”.  She is the type that forces you to work to get to know her.  She knows your commitment level before you do sometimes.

We finally went out on our first (double) date with my roommate and his way-better half.  We went to Houston’s Restaurant and went ice skating at an indoor ice chateau followed by a movie at my parent’s home.  The date went as expected…minimal conversation, anxiety, chasing one another while skating and finally some entertainment where we could just relax and um…not talk.  On the way home we got stopped at a railroad track and while stopped I turned to her and put the pressure on.  I told her my intentions were to date her and become romantically involved.  Most specifically she would tell you my words were “I’m not looking to be friends, I have enough friends”.  I think it shocked her but at the same time she understood my words.  I think it is where she fell hard for me.  She knew I was direct.  She knew she would never struggle to know my stance on things.  I think it is what she liked most about me.  Now, after dating for 2 ½ years and being married for almost 13 it may be the thing she likes the least. 

The love that I started for her way back then is still alive for her today.  I am still anxious to see her when I get home each day.  Greeted by a hug, I sit down and nod off as she explains the smell of poop and potpourri (from the in home day care) or what she heard on “The View” today.  The nap is never intentional and I care for her and her thoughts deeply.  She is my favorite person in the world.  She has produced 2 fantastic children, has followed her calls from God in life, and has loved me at some very unloving times.  She is a great mom and a great wife and I am still in love.