13 Reasons Mommy Loves Daddy

Today -- February 3, 2009 -- is our 13th anniversary. I thought I'd list 13 reasons I love Mike. I could go on and on, of course, but these are just the Top 13...

• Mike has the heart of an entertainer. He is a great storyteller. He loves to make people laugh. And one of his greatest joys, I think, is making sure that the people he's with are having a good time.
  
  
• Mike, or Michael as his family calls him, loves his parents and siblings with his whole heart. He is loyal to the core. He respects each of his brothers and sisters equally but for different reasons. Family is so important to him and I love that about him.
  
  
• This one is random, but Mike's eyes are the color of the lakewater at Lake James. I first noticed it one summer when we were waterskiing with his family. Mike and I were high school sweethearts then and I was totally infatuated with noticing and appreciating each little part of his face. (You know how puppy love is!) But even today, when I look into those eyes, I remember how it felt to be 17 and in love.
  
  
• Mike has great instincts about people. He's a good judge of character. His closest friends are people he's known for years. You can tell a lot by the people you surround yourself with and Mike's friends are solid, loyal, generous people.
  
  
• Mike gives the most amazing foot rubs ever. He even has a signature toe-rolling maneuver that rocks my world!
  
  
• Mike is an awesome dad. He's the right mix of playful-fun-goofy-tickling-wrestling-friend and leader-teacher-explainer-disciplinarian. I am confident that Mike's goal is that our boys grow up with a dad who is a very real presence -- literally and figuratively -- in their lives.
  
  
• Mike works hard at work. He's ambitious. He's dedicated. He cares about his co-workers. He has set certain career goals before him over the years and has accomplished each one. He's really amazing!
  
  
• One of the strengths that Mike brings to our relationship is that he always keeps "tabs" on how we're doing. Are we really connecting or are we "missing" each other? Are we spending enough quality time together? How are we doing spiritually? There have definitely been times over the last 12 years when our train was derailed and he got us back on track because of his intuition and leadership.
  
  
• I grew up with my dad playing guitar and I always hoped that my husband, someday, would also play. I love Mike's goofy songs especially. And our kids love his singing and playing, too; even Ollie gets happy when Mike pulls out his guitar.
  
  
• Mike is passionate about the things he values and believes in. Now, this can be a "positive" or a "negative." If he's talking about marketing, traffic, politics, or celebrities...Buckle up! ;-) But get him started on topics of his faith in Christ, his family, ensuring fairness for people, protecting innocents, and honesty/integrity in all situations...You'll quickly see that is a very passionate, thought-full person.
  
  
• Mike is very generous. He loves, loves, loves to give people gifts.
  
  
• Mike is a deep thinker. His two favorite authors are C.S. Lewis and Ravi Zaccharias. He's interested in philosophy, apologetics, what makes people tick, and how the world works.
  
  
• Mike makes me laugh. He sees the humor in almost every situation. He's a funny, funny person. One of my all-time favorite things to do with Mike (i.e., a guaranteed laugh) is to watch the local news with him and just wait for the jokes to start rolling in!