The Wind Beneath My Wings

Good heavens that title is cheesy, but it's 11:54 PM and I'm stuck otherwise. Moving on!

Blake is incredibly supportive of me. He was willing to start a relationship with me, despite my impending layoff. He saw me through my unemployment, encouraged my applications and interviews, and counseled with me as we decided together on the right moves. He patiently entertained himself with a book in the evenings when I had to study this summer.

And he drove 7 hours in unmoving traffic to watch me finish my Tough Mudder. He even hugged and kissed me despite all the mud all over me.

As I mentioned earlier, I know I'd be able to get through whatever on my own, but he really brings out and supports the best in me. I'm not just getting through this semester or layoff, I'm excelling and he has a LOT to do with that.

Nobody said it was easy

The week I met Blake, he had just received word of his acceptance to law school, in conjunction with a Masters in Public Policy. In fact, because he received his acceptance to American University and felt right about attending for an MPP even before the law school acceptance and BEFORE his home state of Arizona offered him a similar spot, he knew he was sticking around in DC long enough to want to start something up with someone when the chance came. And so, with both of us in school and only me working part-time, we're living the starving student lifestyle neither of us expected to still be in at this point.

It's not going to be easy. As I'm wrapping up my program of study, he's just getting started. We'll turn 31 the year he graduates. But you know what? It's okay. We feel this is our path and we'll support each other through it!

I love Blake because he works really hard. He is an incredibly diligent student and has yet to take an unprepared day that professes allow students to take a few times a semester. He's on top of his studying, even if he has to stay up late or study on the metro. I'm pretty adept at this school thing by now, but his diligence is still an example to me.

Yes, on some Friday nights, it means we have to hang out in our laundry room in the basement while he studies and I finish my X book. Tomorrow, we will both probably study most of the afternoon.

But we're still together and we're preparing for our family's future success, an attitude we share.

And that is worth it.

Who will buy my sweet red roses?

I love Blake because these were on my nightstand when I got home today. I've moved into the apartment we'll share and today was the first time he's arrived home first. He certainly made the most of it! It's only the third time he's purchased flowers for me, which makes it even more special. I like the surprise. In fact, I didn't even notice these the first time I walked into the bedroom today. The first time I got flowers was the last week of my old job, and they were delivered. First time anyone has ever sent me flowers.

He is so sweet to me and I am so grateful!

Make 'em laugh, make 'em laugh

I know I've already talked about how Blake and I share compatible silliness, but his sense of humor and comedic timing is just so good it's getting a second post.

Late this afternoon, we were driving home from a thrift store where we picked up our first piece of mutually agreed upon furniture - a dining room hutch. (All the rest of our furniture was mine originally.) It's structurally sound, but could use some cleaning and paint job. So we were talking about where in our space we could paint it, and I was pointing out that we could just put down some drop cloths and paint it inside.

Me: People paint inside all time; how else would walls get painted?

Blake: Elves.

Me: Ooh. That reminds me! Emmaleigh said

Blake: Wait. Emily [my sister] said that elves paint walls? I don't know what they're teaching her in her art classes at BYU-I [she's an art education major], but that's not factual. Elves don't paint walls. (pause) They paint cars. (pause) I mean, it makes sense, the car factories are all in Michigan, where it's cold and an easy commute from the North Pole.

Me: I love you.

And then I bargained that I would blog this for today's post if he would heat up some leftovers. As I sat down, I reminded him the ladle was in the dishwasher.

Blake: Ladle, ladle, ladle, I made it out of clay, and when it's dry and ready, with a ladle I will . . . serve.

Every day he makes laugh. Every day.

And the hutch! Before!

Get yourself an egg and beat it!

The first meal I ever made for Blake was his favorite food - manicotti. I had made it once before, but didn't know where my recipe had run off to, so I researched, found a new one and made a dish he ultimately loved.

But that's not why I love Blake. It's easy to love someone who willingly eats his favorite foods. I love Blake because he'll eat anything I make him. While he's made meals a few times, I'm generally the chef around here and he's my assistant. I readily admitted to him that I can't make clam chowder to save my life. It eludes me and was probably the most accidentally disgusting thing I've made yet.

And still? He promised that if I ever try it again (and I probably will, I lurve a good clam chowder), he'll eat it. Tonight? He looked at bit skeptically at the dinner in a pumpkin I had made (because I finally have a real oven again! Holla!), but a few minutes later went back to seconds. An hour later, he spontaneously told me how much he liked it.

I love to cook, but I especially love to cook for someone who loves to eat what I cook. It's even better when I make the food itself show how much I love him.

It's tricky to rock a rhyme

One sweet thing Blake does to show his love for me is occasionally writing me poems. I've never had anyone write me poetry before! They're short and sweet and always brighten my day. I'm grateful for the the screen capture feature of my phone that allows me to save each one.

I could make it on my own, let me know that I don't have to

I have lived out on my own, for good, now since 2005. For more than 3.5 years, I have lived completely on my own - no roommates by choice. I've gotten used to managing my own house and chores. I'm not perfect and my house was far from impeccable, but I did pretty well for myself.

Blake has jumped right in and started sharing my burdens and I his. I refused to let him help me clean before I had him over for the first time, but since then he has helped with cleaning and cooking and anything I need or want. We started grocery shopping together ages ago, and if I cook, he cleans.

I love Blake because he really helps me and we get to work together, especially now as we assemble our new home and life. With everything we have going on, neither one of us feels unevenly burdened.

I could continue to make it alone, but I'm so glad I don't have to anymore!

Someone to fall back on

My darling Blake is very protective. Not in a "You can't do anything without me and you must never talk to strangers and you must stay behind me whilst I perform this football block as we pass this group of strangers" kind of way.

By the way, ask us to tell the story of the guy who DOES run football blocks for his girlfriend as they pass random strangers. It's much better in person.

Blake is protective in that he wants me to be safe and happy and feeling well. He helped me realize the new noise I had been hearing in the middle of the night was cars driving over a steel plate recently installed in the street by our apartment, which I'd conjured all sorts of scary reasons for and sleeping in a huge new apartment by myself right now has been easier ever since. He asks, with genuine concern, if I'm doing okay if I look stressed or tired. We check in with each other when one of us drives home at night, to let the other know we're safe. He also likes to come to campus with me in the evenings to study while I attend class, not just because he likes the extra time with me, but because he doesn't love the idea of me walking the 1.5 miles between our friend's house where I park and campus proper in the dark alone. Of course I can handle it and have for several months before we met, but it's nice to have him there just in case.

One thing you may notice as we walk together is that I am almost always on his left. The first time I ever held hands with someone, when I was 13 as he escorted me to my parents' car after a school dance, he told me that in the time of knights, a lady would always be on a gentleman's left so that he could use his right hand to draw his sword if necessary.

Turns out, that's pretty much what Blake does. His first career choice post-college was to attend the police academy. While he ultimately decided that was not his ultimate career path, it was ingrained in him to never carry anything in his gun hand as it would take longer to drop whatever was there in order to defend himself than if there was nothing in that hand in the first place. He doesn't even conceal carry, but just in case he needs to defend us physically, his right hand is almost always at the ready.

Now that I'm aware of that, I try to help. So if we're walking, and I say "switch?" and we walk around each other until I'm on his left, that's why. I think it's good to help him maintain the habit and it may one day be a good thing.

We'll take the world together, we'll take 'em by the hand

First, the news. In an effort to maintain at least some income, but focus mostly on finishing my degree and our new life together, I'm working as a substitute teacher and as a babysitter for my graduate advisor and her husband. It's not what I want to do forever, but it will do for now!

Also, I'm getting married NEXT MONTH! It's next month already! Yay!!!

And now for another thing I love about Blake. He loves to hold hands and is otherwise not shy about showing affection, even in public.

As you know, we held hands on our very first date. The next day at church, we held hands too, even though its very popular for people to date in our church in circle and not make any show of it. We were happy and didn't care who knew it. And we still hold hands as frequently as we can.

I love how our hands fit together and I love how his hand feels in mind. I never want to let it go.

We also draw on each other sometimes. As two graduate students, we often have writing instruments in our hands and we're silly, so temporary tattoos and love notes it is!

I love you, I do

The most wonderful time of year is upon us! NaBloPoMo! 30 posts in 30 days! But Amanda, you ask, you didn't finish last year when you just had grad school and work and now you have new work, school, AND a wedding to plan! What makes you think you'll manage this year?

Different motivation, my friends.

This year, I'm going to tell you 30 reasons why I love my fiancé. He has no idea I'm planning to do this, until now. I beg your indulgence on the schmoopiness of it all, but hopefully you'll get to know him better, especially those of you who love far away.

So, the first reason (that I'll share, these will be in no particular order) I love Blake?

We have compatible silliness. For example, I own this panda hat, for kicks and giggles, and he wore it and posed all cute for me in it.

We make similarly bad jokes and feigned outrage. And he makes me laugh harder and more often than anyone I've ever known. I really can just be myself around him and he around me, and it's wonderful.

I'm so incredibly blessed and grateful that he has come into my life and I'm excited share with you some of the many reasons why!