More things I love about Mike

After I wrote my last post, I kept thinking of more and more things I love, appreciate, and admire about MY Husband:

- He has a good heart. He practices the Spirit of the law and doesn't get caught up in the petty stuff. 

- As a husband, dad, coworker, neighbor, friend, leader, etc. he's always trying to improve and is thinking of ways he can be better.

- He has a gift to see things as they are. He's unbiased and sees things and people clearly without attached emotion, grudges, etc. Because of that, people like him and he gives sound advice.

- I still don't understand why, maybe it's from being the only boy with a family of 6 sisters, but he is so Patient with and understanding of people. He has charity and isn't hard on others. He doesn't judge or criticize.

- He "gets" Technology and he's really good with it. He calls himself a "computer geek" by profession. I call him the "Technology Whisperer." Computers and gadgets just work for him. He's a very patient and clear teacher. I can ask him the lamest of questions and he will be so patient in helping me to understand the solution.

- He's Responsible. I remember when we were dating I asked him "what makes you tick?" and he replied: "Responsibility." On the job, with his family, in his calling, in taking care of us. I can trust him to step up and do whatever is needed. He does his part and gives 110% in what really matters.

- Ambition doesn't cloud his judgement. He's driven. He's motivated. But he's balanced. His priorities are in the right place and I know that family and myself come first. If I need him at home, he'll be there. I try not to take advantage of that. He's a smart worker but not a workaholic. He's home by dinner time and he is all ours.

- Mike is Smoldering Hot. He's Athletic, he's strong, and he's good at everything he does. It's really not fair. I used to take pride (ha! and still do) in beating boys at anything and everything. But the Only thing I can remotely beat him in is swimming and that's only because I dedicated half of my childhood to it and he barely even took swim lessons. I don't Stand a chance anywhere else.

- He's versatile. He'll Rip up the mountain on his bike, then shower and go to a musical with me. He enjoys a variety of things, is Open minded. He tries and enjoys many of my food "creations," he'll listen to what he calls our "marriage therapy" enhancing marriage tapes that I come home with,  he reads and enjoys parenting books, and he's willing to try new things.

- He's a Good listener -as much as I can expect from a boy anyway.

- He has goals but is realistic. He's an Analytical thinker, sees all sides, and makes Decisions well.

- (this is one of my Favorites) He makes sure we have FUN. He is the brains behind many of our vacations and outings. He makes sure we have fun playing, recreating, and enjoying life. And we do!

- He's social. He likes people and he likes to play. We both enjoy getting together with friends, walking the neighborhood, and being out with others.

- He likes nice things but is also smart with money. He's not wasteful. He researches

before spends, buys quality the first time, takes really good care of what we have, and consequently, we don't throw much out. He has good taste (or maybe just similar to mine) and I can sleep at night knowing that he won't come home some day with a dead bear and want to lay it's skin all over our living room floor.

- He's clean and neat. He's not a slob but not OCD either. He's helpful around the house. He sees what needs to be done and he does it. He's careful with stuff and takes good care of our belongings and home. Takes such nice care of our lawn and keeps it looking nice and beautiful. Does nice projects

around the house (like our raised garden beds) and because he follows directions he does them right the first time.

- He's really thoughtful in thinking of the greater good and in what will satisfy everyone and not just himself. Watching movies, eating out, vacations, free time-- he thinks of everyone involved and not just himself. 

- He is seriously so Unselfish. I know there are so many things he enjoys and would love to do, but he doesn't. Instead, he does the dishes, mows the lawn, puts the boys to bed, or does anything else that he can see needs to be done.

-He's Romantic. Our dream and 5 star getaway last weekend could have been an entirely different experience. He at first won a bid for a hotel, only to discover that it was old, yucky, and had poor reviews. That didn't sound okay to him, so he did some research and found our dream alpine getaway for not a whole lot more money. He is thoughtful and gives me just the right amount of Love cards, flowers, and nice getaways. Thinks about and knows what I like and would enjoy.

- He Appreciates nature and the outdoors. He is a true Eagle Scout and I'm so glad our boys have him to look up to and to aspire to be like.

- He's Emotionally healthy and mature. He doesn't have issues. He has a good attitude, is Positive, and

doesn't complain. He's happy and so easy to get along with and to be around. He goes with the flow which is a much easier way to get through life.

- He is Mellow, keeps his cool, and doesn't have much of a temper. He is stable and predictable.

- He Works hard and Plays harder

- He's without guile. He's not a salesman. He is honest, blunt, and says things the way they are and / or what everyone else is thinking but can't get away with saying.

- He's such a good son-in-law. Even though he has plenty of family and doesn't need more, he has adopted my family as his own. He never complains about spending too much time with them and he's not critical of them.

- He's not very stubborn in the big things. He's willing to change and to try other approaches to problems and situations.

- Somehow he's found the balance between being Nice but not getting taken advantage of.

- He reads me well. Granted, he can't read my mind yet, he knows when I need a hug or backrub. When I need to talk, when I need extra help, and when I've reached my limit (that ones usually pretty obvious). He's not clueless, in fact he's really perceptive.

- He's such a good dad. He's not afraid to discipline, but for the most part he does it in a loving but firm way. The boys aren't scared of him. They ADORE him.

-He is understanding of me and what I do all day. He prefers going to work and often tells me that he is very glad to do so rather than be home with the boys all day, every day.

- He values Education and learning. I'm so impressed that he had the commitment to get his degree even when it really wasn't necessary. It may never be, but it's admirable that he put in the work and effort and we're glad that he's set that example for our kids.

- Once again, the most important thing to me is that he Genuinely appreciates me, values what I can contribute, and he loves me as I am.