Thankful Thursday

I am going to participate in Thankful Thursday. Every Thursday I will post what I am thankful for and the reasons behind it.
Since I am also participating in the S.W.A.K. Carnival from We are THAT Family, I will combine the posts today. So...

I am sooo thankful for my husband. He's not the type to bring me flowers and chocolate all the time. But when he does, it's unexpected and I think that is the best times. Sometimes it's not even a surprise (last night he asked what color roses were my favorite...hmmm). Anyway, sometimes he doesn't tell me about things he does and I find out by accident. Here's an example: yesterday I had to take my 3 year old to the doctor (strep throat :( ). I take my cell phone when I go somewhere (duh) and mine needed charged. I plugged it in the same outlet as my dh's phone, but put my phone behind some stuff on the counter; thinking he would pick up the one in front. For some reason he doesn't and accidently takes my phone with him to work. Oh well, I just took his phone. He has my phone number listed twice in his contacts. But he doesn't use my name. What does he use, you ask? Above Rubies is the first listing, Beautiful is the second. Whoa! Knock me over with a feather. How sweet is that!? I swear I smiled the rest of the day!
The thing that first attracted my to my dh was his sense of humor. Here's an example:















This was taken at the local fair. A guy dresses up as a clown and wears this hat. I'm not sure how my dh got his attention, but next thing I know he's wearing the hat and the guy put some of his face paint on. It was pretty funny.

He also entertains others:
















My dh is accomplished on many levels. He can remodel. Here's a picture of him working on a bathroom in a previous house.




















He built these cabinets:




















And these:















He built shelves for a clothes closet in our house; for pictures of that go here.

He got his doctorate in Theology a few years ago.




















He's great with the kids. He's always doing stuff with them. He takes them to the zoo (I usually go with them, but he used to take the 3 oldest when they were little and I had just had our fourth). He lets them help when he makes stuff. He used to be able to take them to work with him. (The job he's doing now is just too dangerous). He'll take one or two in his car when he takes the trash to the dump. He'll stop at the store and buy them a treat. He's patient with them, he plays with them, he teaches them the Bible, he reads to them at night, he babysits sometimes just so I can go out by myself, he writes them notes to tell them he loves them or he's impressed with what they've done. He taught our second daughter and oldest son to read when I wasn't able to.











































































He even lets them win sometimes:
















He loves his family. These were taken a few years ago at his step-mom's memorial service.















Our nephew:















He will do things that he doesn't like just because I do (he doesn't like bowling):















He's not afraid to try new things:




















Some guy's parrot.









Sack race at our birthday bash this past July.















(Yes, that is a dead boar).

There are other things he's tried and I don't have pictures of them.

He knows a lot more than I do about many things; the Bible, computers (90% of what I know about computers I learned from him), photography, carpentry, cars, planes, and a lot of other stuff I can't even think of. He can do things better than I can; swim, talk to perfect strangers, run faster. He can do different voices. He prays with us every day and leads devotions. All of these things are just the icing on the cake. He also does the mundane, every day tasks of going to work to provide for his family. He keeps the vehicle maintenance up and does it himself. He will stop by the grocery store on his way home from work to pick up something when I call and ask. Or stop by Wal-Mart (which he hates to do) to pick up diapers.

There are many things I admire and love about my husband. It would take me all day to list them all. Probably the biggest thing I love about him is his desire to learn more about God. He has taught me so much through what he has learned and he is always seeking to know more about Christ.

There were many, many pictures I wanted to share, but it would take up too much space. I'll leave you with just three more.

Then:


























Our wedding, 1996.

And Now:




















Cafe du Monde, New Orleans, LA, 2008

Head on over to We Are THAT Family and join in the S.W.A.K. Carnival.

Until next time...