Arthur
He is kind and considerate. I am always amazed when he can pick up on exactly what people are feeling and do something about it. When he does it with me, I am always pleased, but when he notices that someone clear across the room appears to be having a hard day and crosses through the crowd to check on them, it amazes me and delights me that this wonderful attentive person is my husband. He has a gift for reading people's emotions and knowing the right words to say.
He is courageous. He has courage that I could not dream of having, though I do try to dream. He has the courage to say things I may fear to say or do things I may fear to do. I'm never scared when he's with me, because I know he would die before he'd let anything happen to me. He's always looking out for me in a thousand little ways. As I said, his courage is not only one that faces physical dangers but other threats as well. I know he's courageous enough to be honest when it truly counts. I've seen him talk to a troubled friend and ask them if they were right with God. He told them that if they'd get that part of their life straightened out, the rest would not matter as much. He told them that he had been through some very hard times too and that there is hope for a better future. When you know things are right with you and God, the pains of the past no longer have to control you. I don't know that I would ever have had the courage to ask that person that question, but it was done in such a spirit that no feelings were hurt and no one was offended. I could tell that the person felt loved and cared about. On the other end of the spectrum, he has had to defend himself to men at work when they question his commitment not to work on Sundays. For some reason, some people take his commitment not to work Sundays as a personal attack on their morals, even though he's never implied what he thought they should do either way. He simply turns down the work, and their imaginations do the rest. He never attacks them in any way, but neither does he back down off of his position. He can stand firm.
He looks after me. When we are anywhere there may be a potential threat, he always places himself between me and it. I remember walking down to the river in Cincinnati to watch the fireworks on Labor Day. On the way down, there weren't many people, but on the way back, there were hundreds and hundreds of people all walking away from the river. Sadly, many people were drunk or high. Every time we neared a person or group of people that seemed like they could potentially be a problem, he quickly and inconspicuously placed himself between me and them. He's very observant and picks up on lots of things I don't notice in my happy-go-lucky little world. I am very rarely on high alert, so a lot of things slip past me. He catches me when I stumble from not paying attention, and he often warns me of any potential problem before it arises, knowing that I'm probably not paying attention: "There's a bump there. There's a low fence here. Don't step on that." :-) If I'm not feeling well, he does everything he can to help me feel better. I usually like to get up when he gets up and fix his lunch. One night, I was up late in the night with a headache that just would not go away. The next morning, I was awakened to a soft kiss and a goodbye. He had quietly gotten out of bed, got ready to go, fixed his own lunch, and come to tell me goodbye so I would not have to get out of bed and could get some extra rest. He probably wouldn't have awakened me at all, but he knows that I cannot stand not to say goodbye, so he made it as easy on me as possible. On one particularly tiring day when I felt I'd gotten nothing done, I noticed that he'd been in the other room for quite awhile. I went and checked to find him washing the dishes. He had done it without saying a word, knowing that if I knew he was in there doing it, I'd probably get up and try to help. He's so sweet.
He is very competent. When he does something, there is no need to check and see if it is done well. I know it will be. He is talented in a number of areas. He's a good athlete. He's an avid outdoorsman. He's a good hunter who knows lots of little details that others may fail to notice. He's a good shot with a variety of weapons. He knows how to do all kinds of things that lots of people don't do. He can identify a bird when it's too far away for me to even tell if it's a goose or a robin. He can tell what it is by the way it moves its wings or holds its head. If he doesn't know how to do something, he can figure it out. He's my memory. If I can't remember a name or a detail, I will ask him. He always remembers. When he sets his mind to accomplishing something, he can make it happen.
He's a hard worker. Arthur is one of the hardest workers I know. When he decides to do a job, you can be sure it will be done, be done well, and be done quickly. He always does his best work. If you ask him to do a job, you can be sure it will be done the best he is capable of doing it at the time. However, he is good at knowing how to balance work and home. He knows that I need him here too, and he has often turned down work or extra activities because they would take too much time away from our relationship. He is committed to working, but he's also committed to finding that delicate balance that will help us to grow best together. That being said, if there is a job that needs done and no one else wants to do it, he will almost always be there to help. That was one of the things one of my cousins told me about him when I was first considering dating him, and I have found that to be true. She said that at Kid's Club at church, if there's a job no one else is willing to do, she knows she can ask Arthur and, even if it's not something he enjoys or he doesn't feel "qualified," he will be willing. I have seldom ever heard him turn anyone down when they asked for help, and when he does, it is almost always because he's already committed to doing some other job or favor that day or because he feels he hasn't spent enough time with me that week.
Arthur is great with kids. He knows how to balance authority and affection in a way that kids respond to. He recognizes that they are people with feelings, emotions, wants, and needs and that theirs are just as valid as those of an adult. He treats them with dignity and respect as fellow human beings, and as a result, they respect him. He listens to their little stories and their feelings and treats them with the same courtesy he'd treat an adult. He's able to balance that with the authority required to make them obey and teach them to make good decisions. He knows that a child can be crushed early in life, and it will affect them forever, so he handles them carefully and lovingly. He never demeans them or embarrasses them or does anything that would damage their spirits. He's fun loving and enjoys playing with them too. Children love Arthur.
Arthur is a good listener. If you need to spill out your woes, he's good to lend and ear and a shoulder to cry on. He's pretty good at giving out sound advice when it's needed, and he's pretty good at knowing when it's needed. He knows that there are times when all you really need is to hear, "I'm sorry. I know that is rough." He's faithful to pray for the people that come to him with problems and for those that he recognizes have problems they cannot share.
He's fun-loving. We have so much fun together. Even menial little tasks can be fun when you work together. I remember counting the change from the change jar and having quite a time. We made it a challenge to see who could count the most coins in the shortest amount of time. Then we made it a challenge to see who could get the last coin back in the jar. Of course Arthur hid a coin, I knew that he would. I acted hesitant to put my coin in the jar. He, of course, acted noble and put his coin into the jar. I acted triumphant as I dropped the "last" coin in the jar. After that, he pulled a coin out from under something and dropped it with gusto into the jar. I acted disappointed just long enough for him to get a gloating look on his face, then I pulled my coin out from under my leg and dropped it in the jar! The shocked look on his face was priceless. He always wins such contests and was surprised that I had fooled him. We both dissolved into laughter on the floor and laughed until our eyes were watering. We have had water fights with the sprayer in the kitchen. We have had a paper wad war break out in the living room and spread across the whole house. Arthur takes a special pleasure in trying to scare me. He will sneak up on me when I'm sitting in the recliner and pull it over backwards. He will stand outside the bathroom in the dark and grab me when I walk out. He loves to challenge me to a game of air hockey, miniature golf, or even video games, though I generally know that I will lose those. I am pretty competitive, though, so I try to give him a run for his money. We really have a good time together.
He's a good Christian man. Arthur does his best to do what's right in every situation. He loves God and wants to please Him. He leads us in devotions every night and tries to be a witness for God everyday in his words and actions. He enjoys helping with Kid's Club, because he wants to make a difference in those children's lives early so they can come to God at a young age. Driving the bus is not one of his favorite activities, but when he is needed, he gives up that early Sunday sleep and drives the bus to pick up the Sunday School kids. He puts God first, even when situations make it difficult. He loves other people, even when at times they can seem unlovable. He often sacrifices his own desires to help someone else. I really admire that about him.
I married the most wonderful man. We have had a very happy first year together. People talk about how hard your first year can be, but I have not found it to be especially hard. In spite of the unusual number of difficulties we've had to face already (Arthur's father died suddenly a few months before we were married, his job was not waiting for him when we got back from our honeymoon, he went about three months without work because there was just no work to be had, we had an accident in the truck, my grandpa got sick and passed away...), we've grown closer and more in love. We've learned to trust each other and rely on each other. We've learned to pinch pennies when we have to and give when it's not easy. We learned to trust God to make up the difference between what we can do and what we need. Sure, there were occasional spats, but the best of friends are sure to have those at times. Our spats have been surprisingly few. The important thing is, we always reconciled and apologized for any bad attitudes, and we are learning to work with each other and grow with each other. Arthur is not difficult to live with because he is loving and has the same desire I do to make our marriage all that God intended marriage to be. He is my best friend, and it is a joy to spend my life with him.
He is courageous. He has courage that I could not dream of having, though I do try to dream. He has the courage to say things I may fear to say or do things I may fear to do. I'm never scared when he's with me, because I know he would die before he'd let anything happen to me. He's always looking out for me in a thousand little ways. As I said, his courage is not only one that faces physical dangers but other threats as well. I know he's courageous enough to be honest when it truly counts. I've seen him talk to a troubled friend and ask them if they were right with God. He told them that if they'd get that part of their life straightened out, the rest would not matter as much. He told them that he had been through some very hard times too and that there is hope for a better future. When you know things are right with you and God, the pains of the past no longer have to control you. I don't know that I would ever have had the courage to ask that person that question, but it was done in such a spirit that no feelings were hurt and no one was offended. I could tell that the person felt loved and cared about. On the other end of the spectrum, he has had to defend himself to men at work when they question his commitment not to work on Sundays. For some reason, some people take his commitment not to work Sundays as a personal attack on their morals, even though he's never implied what he thought they should do either way. He simply turns down the work, and their imaginations do the rest. He never attacks them in any way, but neither does he back down off of his position. He can stand firm.
He looks after me. When we are anywhere there may be a potential threat, he always places himself between me and it. I remember walking down to the river in Cincinnati to watch the fireworks on Labor Day. On the way down, there weren't many people, but on the way back, there were hundreds and hundreds of people all walking away from the river. Sadly, many people were drunk or high. Every time we neared a person or group of people that seemed like they could potentially be a problem, he quickly and inconspicuously placed himself between me and them. He's very observant and picks up on lots of things I don't notice in my happy-go-lucky little world. I am very rarely on high alert, so a lot of things slip past me. He catches me when I stumble from not paying attention, and he often warns me of any potential problem before it arises, knowing that I'm probably not paying attention: "There's a bump there. There's a low fence here. Don't step on that." :-) If I'm not feeling well, he does everything he can to help me feel better. I usually like to get up when he gets up and fix his lunch. One night, I was up late in the night with a headache that just would not go away. The next morning, I was awakened to a soft kiss and a goodbye. He had quietly gotten out of bed, got ready to go, fixed his own lunch, and come to tell me goodbye so I would not have to get out of bed and could get some extra rest. He probably wouldn't have awakened me at all, but he knows that I cannot stand not to say goodbye, so he made it as easy on me as possible. On one particularly tiring day when I felt I'd gotten nothing done, I noticed that he'd been in the other room for quite awhile. I went and checked to find him washing the dishes. He had done it without saying a word, knowing that if I knew he was in there doing it, I'd probably get up and try to help. He's so sweet.
He is very competent. When he does something, there is no need to check and see if it is done well. I know it will be. He is talented in a number of areas. He's a good athlete. He's an avid outdoorsman. He's a good hunter who knows lots of little details that others may fail to notice. He's a good shot with a variety of weapons. He knows how to do all kinds of things that lots of people don't do. He can identify a bird when it's too far away for me to even tell if it's a goose or a robin. He can tell what it is by the way it moves its wings or holds its head. If he doesn't know how to do something, he can figure it out. He's my memory. If I can't remember a name or a detail, I will ask him. He always remembers. When he sets his mind to accomplishing something, he can make it happen.
He's a hard worker. Arthur is one of the hardest workers I know. When he decides to do a job, you can be sure it will be done, be done well, and be done quickly. He always does his best work. If you ask him to do a job, you can be sure it will be done the best he is capable of doing it at the time. However, he is good at knowing how to balance work and home. He knows that I need him here too, and he has often turned down work or extra activities because they would take too much time away from our relationship. He is committed to working, but he's also committed to finding that delicate balance that will help us to grow best together. That being said, if there is a job that needs done and no one else wants to do it, he will almost always be there to help. That was one of the things one of my cousins told me about him when I was first considering dating him, and I have found that to be true. She said that at Kid's Club at church, if there's a job no one else is willing to do, she knows she can ask Arthur and, even if it's not something he enjoys or he doesn't feel "qualified," he will be willing. I have seldom ever heard him turn anyone down when they asked for help, and when he does, it is almost always because he's already committed to doing some other job or favor that day or because he feels he hasn't spent enough time with me that week.
Arthur is great with kids. He knows how to balance authority and affection in a way that kids respond to. He recognizes that they are people with feelings, emotions, wants, and needs and that theirs are just as valid as those of an adult. He treats them with dignity and respect as fellow human beings, and as a result, they respect him. He listens to their little stories and their feelings and treats them with the same courtesy he'd treat an adult. He's able to balance that with the authority required to make them obey and teach them to make good decisions. He knows that a child can be crushed early in life, and it will affect them forever, so he handles them carefully and lovingly. He never demeans them or embarrasses them or does anything that would damage their spirits. He's fun loving and enjoys playing with them too. Children love Arthur.
Arthur is a good listener. If you need to spill out your woes, he's good to lend and ear and a shoulder to cry on. He's pretty good at giving out sound advice when it's needed, and he's pretty good at knowing when it's needed. He knows that there are times when all you really need is to hear, "I'm sorry. I know that is rough." He's faithful to pray for the people that come to him with problems and for those that he recognizes have problems they cannot share.
He's fun-loving. We have so much fun together. Even menial little tasks can be fun when you work together. I remember counting the change from the change jar and having quite a time. We made it a challenge to see who could count the most coins in the shortest amount of time. Then we made it a challenge to see who could get the last coin back in the jar. Of course Arthur hid a coin, I knew that he would. I acted hesitant to put my coin in the jar. He, of course, acted noble and put his coin into the jar. I acted triumphant as I dropped the "last" coin in the jar. After that, he pulled a coin out from under something and dropped it with gusto into the jar. I acted disappointed just long enough for him to get a gloating look on his face, then I pulled my coin out from under my leg and dropped it in the jar! The shocked look on his face was priceless. He always wins such contests and was surprised that I had fooled him. We both dissolved into laughter on the floor and laughed until our eyes were watering. We have had water fights with the sprayer in the kitchen. We have had a paper wad war break out in the living room and spread across the whole house. Arthur takes a special pleasure in trying to scare me. He will sneak up on me when I'm sitting in the recliner and pull it over backwards. He will stand outside the bathroom in the dark and grab me when I walk out. He loves to challenge me to a game of air hockey, miniature golf, or even video games, though I generally know that I will lose those. I am pretty competitive, though, so I try to give him a run for his money. We really have a good time together.
He's a good Christian man. Arthur does his best to do what's right in every situation. He loves God and wants to please Him. He leads us in devotions every night and tries to be a witness for God everyday in his words and actions. He enjoys helping with Kid's Club, because he wants to make a difference in those children's lives early so they can come to God at a young age. Driving the bus is not one of his favorite activities, but when he is needed, he gives up that early Sunday sleep and drives the bus to pick up the Sunday School kids. He puts God first, even when situations make it difficult. He loves other people, even when at times they can seem unlovable. He often sacrifices his own desires to help someone else. I really admire that about him.
I married the most wonderful man. We have had a very happy first year together. People talk about how hard your first year can be, but I have not found it to be especially hard. In spite of the unusual number of difficulties we've had to face already (Arthur's father died suddenly a few months before we were married, his job was not waiting for him when we got back from our honeymoon, he went about three months without work because there was just no work to be had, we had an accident in the truck, my grandpa got sick and passed away...), we've grown closer and more in love. We've learned to trust each other and rely on each other. We've learned to pinch pennies when we have to and give when it's not easy. We learned to trust God to make up the difference between what we can do and what we need. Sure, there were occasional spats, but the best of friends are sure to have those at times. Our spats have been surprisingly few. The important thing is, we always reconciled and apologized for any bad attitudes, and we are learning to work with each other and grow with each other. Arthur is not difficult to live with because he is loving and has the same desire I do to make our marriage all that God intended marriage to be. He is my best friend, and it is a joy to spend my life with him.
I love you, Arthur!
Your adoring wife,
Jessica
5 comments:
Ahhhh! We miss you two so much! Reading your post brought a tear to my eyes. Bob and I were so excited when we heard you two were "courtin'!" Heaven knows why we hadn't thought of it before! We were delighted that two of our favorite people had fallen in love with each other--it seemed too good to be true but a perfect fit at the same time.
Happy Anniversary!
Lova ya both,
Bob and Shar
PS Vinegar and cocount oil to kill spiders, who'da thunk it?!?!
Yeah, you tried to set him up with everyone but me! ;-) Alls well that ends well, right? We miss you guys and were just talking about you today.You'll have to come see us or vice versa. Love you guys!
It brought a tear to my eye also, as he is so much like his dad. Glad you two got together!
How sweet! Loved it and the couple involved. Grandma Rogers
Hey, Jess!
Ya'll sound so happy - I can't believe it's already been a year! Of course, it's also hard to believe that we're going on two - plus a 7 month old! :) Take care!
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