In sickness and in health

Want to find out how much your spouse really loves you? Just put the “in sickness” part of your wedding vows to the test!

And since this is the cold-and-flu season, we should have plenty of opportunities. I’m snuggled up in my jammies this week with a sore throat and stuffy head. Where is my husband? He’s been on a business trip. Convenient how he so often manages to be out of town while I’m home suffering! For two days I had to fix my own oatmeal for breakfast, heat up canned chicken noodle soup for lunch, zap a Lean Cuisine for supper, and generally take care of myself (and the dogs!).

Seriously, my sweetie doesn’t travel that much, and he’s usually very considerate and attentive when I’m sick. His “love language” is Acts of Service, so he takes great pleasure in doing little things for me even when I’m well.

However, one of my main “love languages” is Quality Time, and since my husband is often so busy doing, he forgets how much I appreciate his just being--his presence, focus, and attention. Especially when I’m sick, I enjoy comforting words, a foot rub, being read to, or just having my sweetie sit with me. The good news is, if I ask him, he usually obliges.

Whether you’re sick or healthy, what speaks love to you? Are some of your spouse’s messages getting lost in translation? Maybe it’s time to sit down together for a “language lesson.”

The Most Romantic Date of the Year - 2007

Some people may believe that Valentine's Day is the most romantic day of the year. And they may even plan a super-romantic date on February 14.

My husband and I usually exchange cards and small gifts, but we don't go overboard for Valentine's Day. We try and celebrate our romance all year long. Let me tell you about the Most Romantic Date of 2007 (for me, anyway). It was in April 2007...

Wait - I'd beter start at the beginning. I am a homebody. I love being at my safe place - home - with my husband and dogs. With or without company, with or without a good book. I love being at home. I LOVE snow days. After about 3 or 4 days of vacation, I am ready to be home. That's just who I am.

So during April 2007, I was scheduled to work at a client that would require me to be gone (about 1.5 hours away from home) for one week, then home for the weekend, then gone for another week. That's ten days away from home, with one weekend in between.

I did okay for the first week. Talked to hubby a lot on the phone. Watched a lot of TV.

Not so much the second week.

On Wednesday around lunchtime I broke down and started crying on the phone with hubby. I missed him and the pups (2 at that time), and BEING HOME. If you know me at all, you know I don't cry. My emotions are usually pretty even keel. But that's how much I was missing being home.

So what does hubby do about his damsel in distress? After work, he drives up to meet me, with the dogs, and stays the night with me in the hotel. Then he got up extra early the next morning to drive back to Oklahoma City for work. That's right. Three hours of driving just to spend a couple of hours together and catch some sleep.

Basically, my most romantic date of 2007 was pizza and watching TV, but hubby got major brownie points (and major smoochies) for going above and beyond his "normal duties".

For this romantic situation, it didn't take a lot of thought or preparation. All it took from hubby was being available when I needed him. Now that I've written this post, I'm wondering if I've taken all of the opportunities I've had lately to be available for hubby. Something to think about...