The Best Husband

First of all, I'm a week behind on blogging because my brain is fried from painting. This weekend we got the porch, living room, dining room and bathroom painted. Thanks to the help of Mom & Dad Hopkins, the lawn looks lovely and I cannot wait to post a picture of my gorgeous new Hibiscus plant. I sing to her in the morning. She's the star of the garden. I have yet to take pictures and post them because I'm simply beat.
This week I've been incredibly stressed out with the house, work, and the kids. My nerves have also been stretched on end with reconfiguring finances in light of kids who cost more by the month and consume more time and energy than I have to give. And I'm very human and have to swallow resentment when I desperately want a new Kate Spade purse and designer boots for the fall but the kids have a million needs and we can't afford my taste and care for the children at the same time. If you catch me in a vulnerable moment you could get me to cry by saying hello. Just ask my husband. I about bawled when I saw him pull out a tray of mandarin oranges he purchased for the kids' lunch at the store while I was away at a women's meeting tonight. Mind you, I shopped for three hours at three different stores this morning to stock up on what I thought my family needed for the week. I exploded, "WE HAVE FRUIT IN THE FRIDGE! IF YOU THINK YOU CAN DO BETTER THAN ME, WHY DON'T YOU DO ALL THE GROCERY SHOPPING? AND ALL THE COOKING? AND ALL THE CLEANING? AND MAKE ALL THE LUNCHES AND DINNERS? AND SHOW THE HOUSE? I'M DOING IT ALL AND I'M DOING MY BEST AND OBVIOUSLY IT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH IF YOU NEED TO MAKE A SPECIAL TRIP TO THE STORE!" I was near tears. Poor Jeff was dumbfounded. He's not used to living with a hormonally-driven crazy woman who's out of her element in caring for a family of four.
Jeff is wonderful. I don't know anyone else on earth who can so lovingly deal with someone like me. I'm so emotional. He's rock solid. And he always makes me feel loved no matter how crazy I get. At the end of my outburst, he just hugged me and said, "Honey, I think you're doing a great job. I love you so much and appreciate everything you do." Of course I apologized for being so irrational. I don't even have my period. I'm just so driven by my feelings, especially when I'm stressed, and feel like no matter what I do it's not enough.
But Jeff hugs and compliments me like crazy throughout the day and makes me feel incredibly loved. Most days I'm showered with "You're so beautiful," "You're the best cook," "You're so great with the kids," "I love being with you." People ask why my marriage is worth all the work. I point to the fact that my husband makes me feel like the most loved person in the world.
I am so wild about Jeff. I would crawl to hell and back to marry him all over again because he makes me feel so loved and he's frankly the most darling thing I've ever laid eyes on. I don't care if he never picks up his socks, never does yard work, and burdens us with financial obligations due to his past and two children.
I'd pretty much do whatever Jeff asks me to do because he's the greatest companion and I remind him at least a dozen times a night how much I love and respect him. I just think it's so true that if you make a woman feel like she's so loved, she will do anything for you. I would do absolutely anything for Jeff and as hard as it can be, I can't imagine life without him.