Special Edition Matt Post: Anniversary/Mother's Day

Mickie and I just celebrated our 9^th anniversary being married.  We have known each other for 16 years.  This is the year that we hit that point, when I have known her more years than I haven’t known her. There’s some debate on where we first met and when we started to fall for each other.  It does, however, answer the question of whether it was love at first sight.  Even Stevie Wonder could see that is a big, NOPE.  Even if it didn’t start with the fairy tale beginning, I know I won’t be left wondering how we will end up. I mean really, did Cinderella and the Prince (whatever his name is) make it to” ever after” because they wanted to.  In those days divorce was forbidden in his kingdom, but if it wasn’t, would they have stayed together or would she have ended up with half the kingdom, the west wing of the castle and the stage coach that didn’t turn back into a pumpkin at midnight? Regardless, we are here now and I have never loved anyone more in my life.  Our marriage began with a foundation of friendship that grew into love.  There’s no question that when we get older and I have saggy man boobs (this isn’t a gender problem) we will still enjoy each other’s friendship and company. I’m so lucky because I know that our love for one another developed and grew.  It has not stopped growing ever since.

            In fact, it has grown so much that we have born 4 beautiful kids from that seed of love (no pun intended). Today is Mother’s Day and the kids and I are so lucky to have her in our lives. She always does this, but it just shows what kind of wife she is.  Today at church, our ward handed out chocolate to the mothers of the congregation.  Mickie was kind enough to snag an extra piece for me.  She made sure it was one without nuts.  I did argue that she wouldn’t be a mother without me, so I deserved something as well.  I know I joked about the kind gesture, but in all seriousness, this shows the kind of woman she is.  She thinks of others first and finds joy in sharing her good fortune.  I know I am hardly what she imagined in a husband.  She probably imagined someone and inch taller and with bigger calves, which is why I am so thankful she was willing to settle for me. I don’t think she is who I imagined I would marry either.  I was a pretty imaginative kid, but I would not have dared to dream this big.  She is perfect to me in every way. 

I will be interested to see how the kids’ perspectives will change as they get older as well.  Take a look at their answers to some questions I posed about their mom.

1.      What is something mom always says to you?

• Ty- have a good day at school
• Maylee- go to bed
• Emma- Go to the potty.
• Dad- I love you and you’re my favorite.

2.      What makes mom happy?

• Ty- when I clean the toy room
• Maylee- I give her kiss
• Emma- hug
• Dad- a long hug from me and laundry done.

3.      What makes mom sad?

• Ty- don’t do the things she ask you to do
• Maylee-  don’t clean the toy room
• Emma- not eating lunch
• Dad- Sadly, it is usually something I say or do. Usually she is not sad, but when she is, if I don’t give her a hug it only makes it worse.

4.      How does your mom make you laugh?

• Ty- when I say something funny. (he couldn’t remember when that was. “I’ve only made her laugh 3 times)
• Maylee- I don’t know
• Emma- I don’t know
• Dad- While her timing in joke telling is questionable, her recall for movie quotes is almost always impeccable.  

5.       What is mom’s favorite thing to do?

• Ty- make us dinner
• Maylee- drop Ty off at school
• Emma- help us
• Dad- read a good book. (I was only including everyday activities.)

6.       What does your mom do when you’re not around?

• Ty- helps the girls make good choices
• Maylee- fold the laundry
• Emma- I don’t remember
• Dad- read, clean, workout

7.      Where is your mom’s favorite place to go?

• Ty- lunch with me at school
• Maylee-church
• Emma- park
• Dad- Disneyland

8.       What is your mom really good at?

• Ty- teaching me about anything
• Maylee- fixing the trampoline
• Emma- I don’t remember. Me: what do you see her do? Emma: I DON’T REMEMBER!
• Dad- I find she is good at everything she tries (except Frisbee), but I thing she is especially good at baking.

9.       What is your mom not very good at?

• Ty- showing us how to play new games
• Maylee- helping us fold laundry
• Emma- cleaning up the toy room
• Dad- Frisbee or telling punch line jokes. But she is good at making everyone laugh as she tries either one of these.

10.   What does your mom do for a job?

• Ty- stay home and keep an eye on us so we don’t have to go to day care
• Maylee- clean up the home
• Emma- stays home
• Dad- she has the greatest influence over the most important things in our life. From time to time she partakes in small business ventures.

11.   What is your mom’s favorite food?

• Ty- spagetti
• Maylee- noodles
• Emma- dinner
• Dad- steak and potatoes

12.  What do you and your mom do together?

• Ty- snuggle
• Maylee- walk at the park
• Emma- go to bed
• Dad- I like all of the kids ideas, but one of my favorite things to do with her is talk.  She is an excellent conversationalist (when it is she and I).

13.   How do you know your mom loves you?

• Ty- she says I love you all the time
• Maylee- takes a nap with me.
• Emma- be’s nice
• Dad- There is so many examples to pick from, but I will choose a subtle and sweet gesture. She still likes to hold my hand in the car when we drive somewhere.

14.  What does your mom like most about your dad?

• Ty- nice to each other
• Maylee- you got married
• Emma- (I tried to simplify the question for Emma and asked “how do you know mom loves dad?”) take a shower with dad
• Dad- I was going to say wit, but I think Emma’s answer was better. How else do you know you love someone except for making sure that person is clean?

Picture taken during Sunday School today.