Last year at this time, Jared and I had just landed in Maui for what was quite possibly the best honeymoon in the history of all honeymoons. We LOVED Maui and can't wait to go back. I'll always remember our first stop after the airport. Krispy Cream Donuts. We may or may not have gotten a full dozen for just the two of us. And we may or may not have returned later in the week for another dozen...ok so there's a chance it was 18 donuts but whatever. Second stop: road-side fruit stand. Third stop: our amazing beach-side hotel. I can't believe it's been a year already. As I was making a fairly pathetic anniversary dinner last night, I couldn't help but look back over the last year and note what I'd learned from all of the quality time Jared and I have spent together.
There's at least a zillion things I could share, but thought I'd pick the ones that would be most helpful to you, my dedicated blog reader.
Here goes:
1. Men like to dirty as few dishes as possible. When left unattended, men will not only drink out of the carton, but they will use their dirty shirt as a plate - even when a perfectly clean plate is sitting on the counter in front of them.
2. Men are resourceful. While having a delightful conversation next to the dishes you just washed, there's a 32% chance that a man will pick up said dishes, dry them off with the shirt that he's worn three consecutive days in a row working cows and fixing greasy equipment, and then proceed to place the dishes in the cupboard. Never mind the dish towel hanging two feet away that just so happens to be free of cow manure and hydrolic oil. That towel is obviously reserved for drying your hands - well, the wife's hands anyways...cause men can use their shirt to dry their hands as well.
Speaking of washing hands:
3. Men completely understand the concept of "Cleanliness is next to Godliness." Especially when it comes to washing their hands after working outside. When seeing your husband manhandling the food you're about to eat, there's nothing more reassuring than getting an affirmative answer after asking him if he's washed his hands. If you pursue the questioning further, you may find out that he's referring to the time he washed his hand two days prior, but that's not important. What's important is that he's at least mindful of when he does it.
4. Men believe in prep work to make the job easier. When doing the dishes, men will always *without fail* wash everything but the pan. "It needs to soak for a few minutes" they tell you. "So it's easier to wash" they say. It may seem annoying, but after letting the pan sit in the sink for three days before you finally cave and wash it yourself, it really is easy. All the grease and grime practically fly right off. It's pretty amazing.
5. Men believe in sharing with their wife. When you make juice for your husband, he'll drink most of the pitcher but will always leave the last two sips for you. You may think that he's just trying to get out of washing the pitcher, but you'd be wrong. He's sacrificing his last 10 seconds of cool refreshment just to make you happy. So thank him for it. And give him a great big hug and kiss to show your appreciation.
6. Men believe in making their wife self-sufficient. If a man sees a woman doing something once, he then knows that she's capable of doing it herself for the rest of her life. So he'll never do it again. Things like carrying in all the groceries. Or taking out the garbage. Or making dinner. Or watering the entire lawn over the course of 9 hours with one sprinkler head. Or keeping the house clean, the dog fed, the garden weeded and watered, and the sticks cleared off the lawn. If you really want to impress a man and expand your horizons in the process, mow the lawn and sweep out his shop while he's out working. You'll never regret it. I promise.
7. Men believe in saving money. If you're out shopping and see something you really like but can't afford, a good man won't hesitate to say those six words that every woman loves to hear: "I can make one for you." You then take a picture of it and send it to his phone so he can reference it when he rushes home and starts building. And then before you know it, 30 short years have passed by and you finally have your quilt rack. Money saved.
And last but certainly not least:
8. On occasion, men really do know how to make their woman happy. Whether it's making her an anniversary breakfast burrito in an attempt to cheer her up after hearing her yelling and swearing at the calves and the dog and then stomping in the house while pouting like a two year old. Or putting his endless amount of field work on hold for a day-trip to Billings because he knows his wife will completely lose it if she doesn't get her monthly 'city fix'. Or making her homemade ice-cream after she just got rejected for yet another job. Or hiding store-bought ice-cream in the freezer out in the shop and surprising her with it at 9:30pm when she tells him she's craving chocolate. Or helping her with her primary lesson when she's procrastinated and is running late for church - even though he has to be to church 90 minutes before she does. Or continuing to love her despite the fact that she might possibly be the most critical and impatient wife in the whole entire universe.
I love you Jared!!
