I have one more thank you to write. It is to my husband.

I know I said I wasn’t going to be thankful for the “givens” in life like my family, kids, or the roof over my head. But as I seek to explain this very gushy, gooey, post about the hubs, I am going to say that having a great husband is really not a given in life.

Yes, he leaves his dirty clothes on the floor no matter what sort of strategic hamper placement I devise. Yes, I will probably always feel we could use more quality time. No, he will never completely understand me. Yes, he puts the wrong lids on sippy cups, and the other day I found him feeding our 18-month-old son, trail mix. Trail mix. You know, the healthy, tasty, little snack full of choking hazards. Apparently dads are not honed in to this faux-pas.

But there are also the times when he tells me about the latest Parents article he read while in the bathroom. The times I find him washing the dishes, or the way he reads books to Landon and plays with Jacob.

And how could I forget the times when he watches the kids so I can have time to myself, go to the grocery store, get my hair done, or go shopping. Or how he worked so hard to secure a gym membership I desperately wanted but have somehow failed to use these last few weeks. Oops.

At times I may complain, as I am quite certain all women do, about his lack of assistance with domestic duties, but I can honestly say he is one of, if not the, hardest working person I know. He attacks his plans with passion and diligence. He is a pursuer of life, love, and the Lord. He is honest, strong, understanding, and kind of a softie. He makes me laugh. He loves me.

And when it seems to me like the whole world is coming to an end because I got five hours of sleep, am in desperate need of a shower, and have no idea how I will have the patience to make it through the day, he listens, he tries to understand, and reminds me, “I am on your side.”

The best part is, I know it’s true.

Thank you.