My husband is a hopeless romantic.  He has always been that way.  He loves flowers and I know he loves me.  I used to travel a lot when my first book was released, he always had a fresh bouquet of flowers waiting for me when I got home.  Most of the time they were from my own backyard, but that made them all the more special.   One spring he planted red tulips to spell out “I love you” in the flower bed.  It was a little hard to read, but the thought was what counted.

     We have been married nearly 42 years now and we have had our ups and downs.  All couples do.  But, with Jesus in the center of our marriage, we have weathered the storms of life and come out all the stronger for them.  We raised 3 beautiful children and now have 9 grandchildren and one great grand daughter.  Life is good.

   Rich likes to take me to the Marblehead Litehouse on Lake Erie.  We sit for hours on the rocks and enjoy God’s creation.  We talk while listening to the gentle waves breaking against the shore.  It is the most peaceful place.  Afterwards we stop for ice cream.  The perfect date.

     He enjoys old cars and tractors, so I drag myself along to these events.  I like shopping and theater, so I drag him along with me on these occasions.  It’s all about compromise and going the extra mile.

     Rich doesn’t grumble when I want Diary Queen ice cream at 8:30 in the evening and the cars already put away for the night.  He doesn’t complain if I go for a girls night out.  He encourages me to travel, even when he can’t come along.  He buys me chocolates and perfume, neither of which I need.

     I think I’ll keep him for a few more years.  I’m getting too old to train a new man.  Besides, I love the old guy in a thousand ways.