Today, I am thankful for...

...my best friend and husband - Marco! I have known and loved this man for almost 20 years. We met in college. He was the somewhat quiet guy and I was the loud, out going girl and we started out as just friends. We both had been dating others, but during the beginning of our 2nd semester of our freshman year, we started dating each other. We both graduated three and a half years later and got married that summer.

My husband and I have been working in full-time ministry since we got married. At times, things got tough economically and we'd struggle financially. He never once made me feel like we were in dispair or insecure. He'd go out and work extra jobs. He's worked in carpentry, roofing, pipe-lines, for the county - whatever it was that we needed.

A little over two years ago, we left the church we were both working for and eventually started a church. Our church is independent and we get no outside help from a "head church or organization". Being a "baby" church, my husband knew that we could not depend on just the offerings to pay his salary and at the same time cover the lease of the church and its bills - so he started working the first job he could get his hands on. It happened to be driving a truck. He didn't want a job that would add more stress or that would have crazy hours because he was still needing to run the church work. I do not work outside of the home anymore. He wouldn't mind if I did, but he said that he likes that I can stay home with the children, teach my oldest two and just be "at home" for the first time in forever. I love that. He is so unselfish. He works so hard and he never.ever.complains. Besides my own father, I can't think of a single man that works as hard as he does and without a grumble.

He's also an amazing father. Our 3 oldest are girls. He treats all 3 of them like princesses. He's very gentle and loving with them. We love to laugh and be together in our family and he makes sure that there is plenty of that going on at all times. My youngest is a boy, as many of you know, and he is his pride and joy. Little Marco is all boy and I can just imagine the two of them as he gets older and can play sports and hang out and be dad's helper.

Lastly, I have to mention the way he spoils me. Besides what I previously mentioned, he is also my pastor. That's weird, right? But, I love it. I can appreciate it, because he doesn't live differently at home than what he preaches. We have a motto in our house and we live by it. Keep it real! Yup, that's our motto. Doesn't sound that spiritual, right? If you only knew how it helps to really keep us spiritual, you'd appreciate it more. =]

He goes all out for any special occasion like birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, Valentine's...he always has. He indulges my love for books, scrapbooking, crafting...no complaints.
Today, I am thankful for him. My best friend...we don't always see eye to eye, but that's what makes us balanced. I love you, Marco!