What Love Looks Like

Today I'm linking up with The Blended Blog as we continue writing about the month of love.

I'm a lucky woman, because I have a lot of love in my life.  My children, family and friends lift me up and surround me with love every day.  But the main flow of love into my heart comes from the man I met almost 36 years ago, on the first day of 9th grade.

This husband of mine is kind, generous, thoughtful and romantic.  No one can make me happier or more angry, sometimes in the same day.  He's not perfect, but he's perfect for me.  And bonus, he thinks I'm the smartest, funniest, most beautiful woman in the world.  When I think about what love looks like, I always look to him.

The theme this month for 10 on the 10th with Perfectly Port Family is "10 memories with your spouse".  George and I have known each other since we were 15, so it's hard to narrow the memories down, but here are a few random ones that share what love looks like to me.

1 / We didn't have much money for a honeymoon, but we were able to spend a few days in Napa Valley.  As we drove through a vineyard at sunset, with the convertible top down and the warm sun bathing the hills in the most gorgeous light, I remember thinking "this is the beginning of a really special life".

2 / In the first years of our marriage, George was not ready for children.  I'd wanted to be a mother forever, but I knew I needed to be patient and wait for him.  One April day in 1994, as we did our income taxes, he looked at me and said "I think it's time for some little tax deductions".  Nine months later...

3 / Our first house was teeny tiny, and due to youth and stupidity, we decided to remodel and add on while I was 6 months pregnant with Conner.  In the middle of winter.  As per standard, our general contractor was sloooooow and often absent.  I'd finally had enough of living without heat and walls, and announced to George that I was moving to my parents' until everything was finished.  That day he fired the contractor and spent the next month, after work and on weekends, finishing the house himself.  And it turned out really lovely.

4 / So many of my memories come from George as a dad.  A really good one.  His own father left when he was young, so he's had no role model to draw experience from.  But it hasn't mattered, because he's as good as they come.  Our boys have been blessed with a father who listens, guides, and loves them with everything he has.  Nobody is more proud of his kids, and they know it.

5 / We started our business in 2002, but we were only doing it part time.  One day George called me from work to say that the time had come for him to quit his full time job and jump in with both feet.  He asked if I was ready to start a new adventure with him.  My answer was "always".

6 /  Our family has been vacationing in Manzanita, Oregon for 19 years.  Every morning at 7am George and I head to the beach for an hour long walk.  We talk about where we've been and where we're going.  Usually we have no idea.

7 / For my 40th birthday, George planned a surprise wedding vow renewal ceremony at our honeymoon spot in Napa Valley.   He worked on it for months, making sure every last detail was perfect.  In my usual clueless way, I had no idea until everything was revealed to me.  He wanted to make sure I felt special and loved as I turned 40 years old.  He succeeded.

8 / Disney World.  George hates everything about theme parks.  The crowds, the rides, the running around.  But the boys and I love them.  So he goes with us, and sits there patiently, and takes his happiness from the joy on our faces as we ride Space Mountain over and over again.

9 / Dropping Thomas off at college was one of the hardest days ever for me.  On the five hour drive home, I couldn't stop crying.  Until we stopped at a beautiful rest area overlooking the Columbia River, and George pulled out a travel book and told me that it was time to do something for us, and he'd been planning just the thing.  A trip to Paris.

10 / Paris.  The perfect launch to our new adventure as empty nesters.   As we stared at the Eiffel Tower for the first time, I remember thinking "we're in the middle of a really special life".

Hope you'll head over to The Blended Blog and share what love looks like to you!