Deeper Love - Day 3

It’s only Day 3 of my gratitude journey. It’s a hard journey. Especially when my motivation behind it is to kill impatience. It’s hard not to look forward to all of the things I am excited for. But first, my anniversary!

OUR 2 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

Yesterday, Austin and I had a very great anniversary. Every anniversary, I think back to the one before and am surprised that I love him even more this year than I did the last. Which, if you think about it makes sense. I’m fortunate enough to have married a man who is always striving to be better. He wants to be a better person and he tries every day to do that. I love him so much for that. I’ve seen him overcome so many hard obstacles and come out better every single time. So, from a completely logical standpoint, if I am married to someone who is trying to be better, he makes it easy to love him more and more every day.

Then, I also have learned that I love him more deeply the more I get to know him. I still learn new things about him every day. For example, I found out that he refuses to purchase any other Ranch Dressing besides Hidden Valley. He doesn’t like honey (which I knew before, but just boggles my mind). And he really loves any baby clothes with ears on the hat or hood. But, aside from all of just the little eccentricities, I am learning more about the way he thinks, his motivations. I am getting to know him more deeply.

I think that is why Jesus Christ loves each of us so much, because He knows us better than we know ourselves. How can we not love someone if we understand them and where they are coming from?

So, if my husband is constantly trying to become a better person and I am learning more about who he is, deep down, it is literally impossible to not love him more than I already do. Next year, I will probably look back on this year and think, “Wow. I can’t believe I love him more than I did last year.”

THE ACTUAL EVENT

After work I picked him up and we went out to The Cheesecake Factory. It was delicious! Oh! That was something else I learned about Austin; he had never been to the Cheesecake Factory. This was his first time. He didn’t even tell me that until after dinner.

He let me pick the appetizer and he picked the dessert. So, of course we got the crab and artichoke dip with some toasted bread. Mmmm. Then, while we were waiting for the entrees we did our little ‘anniversary’. Austin was also finishing up the card while we were there at the restaurant. Haha. He’s been a little busy I guess.

Then, I gave him my card and present. I had gotten him a watch. Austin LOVES watches. I thought he just needed one the last Christmas I got him one, but he wants a whole bunch of them. He wants different colors and styles. He loved the watch. I’m glad he liked it.

Prior to this night, Austin had interrogated me to find out if I had gotten him a gift, because he wanted to be on the same page. I told him he didn’t need to worry about getting me anything because the watch just communicated what I wanted to express to him.

Well, I read his card next. It was super sweet. And he tells me to close my eyes and then places a giant Toblerone candy bar on the table. Haha. It was huge, like the kind my dad used to buy when he was really craving something great. I laughed and loved it. And then he tells me to close my eyes again and hold out my hands. When I opened them, I saw that he had placed a dainty, beautiful silver necklace in them. I wanted to start crying and almost did.

I told him once a long, long time ago that I wanted a piece of jewelry from him so that if he was ever out of town or he died in some tragic accident that I would have something to wear and remember him. I know that sounds morbid, but little gifts or objects hold a lot of meaning for me. When I look at it or wear it, it instantly takes me back to the moment it was given to me and I remember how much that person loves me. They have to, right? Otherwise, why would they have thought to give me a gift?

I also forgot to really bring any jewelry with me to North Carolina, so now it gives me something to wear.

So, I’m wearing my cute little necklace today and since he will be gone until 9:30 tonight, it’s almost like I’ve still got a little piece of him.

As we were exchanging gifts, our dip arrived. To my great pleasure, Austin loved it. Sometimes he is skeptical of the dips. We had some delicious dinner and Austin decided on a caramel pecan turtle cheesecake. It was a great choice!

And that was our anniversary in a nutshell.

DAY 3 Gratitude

And now, my gratitude for today.

-I’m grateful I have friends at work.

-I’m grateful I have the courage to say what I think.

-I’m grateful that my mom answers my phone calls when I’m at lunch so I have someone to chat with.

-I’m grateful for the chocolates I have stashed away in my drawer at work.

-I’m grateful I have a husband who is working so hard this week to try and find a job.

-I’m grateful for Duke University for providing a lot of job placement opportunities

-I’m grateful for the customers who come into work and make my day. About a week ago, someone who I had been working with left me a card at my desk. It just made my day.

-I’m SO GRATEFUL FOR 5:00! It literally is the best time of day. And as I prance out the door from work, I think, Sweet Freedom!

-I’m grateful for a service manager who listens to my concerns at work.

-I’m grateful for leftovers.