Ways of Love

There are many different ways to know love.  I can think back over 20 years knowing this one guy and see love in many different ways.

He never picked me up in a limo.  He never serenaded me outside my window.  He never left a trail of rose petals thru the house.  Those things are definitely romantic!  But they aren’t always love.

Love was when I was leaving for college and was sad that my parents were re-homing my barn cats; so he took one.  He was allergic to cats.  But he and Tiger had many good times together!

Love was when I almost didn’t leave for college because I didn’t want to leave him.  He told me I should go.  It was what I had always wanted to do.  And he knew I’d regret it if I stayed home for him.  Love was waiting for me while I was gone.  Love was flying out to see me when he was afraid of heights and flying!

Love is working hard to be the best husband and father that he can be; even when he doesn’t feel like it.  One thing I’ve learned was that I was definitely more aware of how selfless I would need to be, to be a parent.  He hadn’t seen that before.  It didn’t mean he wasn’t capable.  It meant he was blindsided.  And he’s come a long way!

Love was giving in and letting us keep an indoor kitty when I found her half-frozen on the side of the road years ago.  He really hadn’t wanted another indoor kitty after Tiger died.  I can’t blame him.  He really is allergic to cats!  But, I have always loved cats!  Always!

Love is a surprise like tonight.  He agreed to a second indoor kitty!!  Lolly has been snuck inside since she was born this spring.  She has let the kids dress her in clothes.  She has rode around in whatever vehicle/box they’ve made for her.  And she is constantly purring!  Outside though, she’s miserable.  She has been living in a rock pile.  She’ll rarely come up to the house anymore.  The other barn cats are a little rougher.  She isn’t.  She has one friend out there.  Other than that she runs.  I voiced my concerns the other day about losing her.  She just isn’t holding her own outside.  And she can’t survive the winter in a rock pile.

Tonight I proposed a deal to keep Lolly inside and “fix” our furry ladies outside . . well all except for one who probably would not survive a surgery.  I was planning on doing this anyway.  We had talked about it.  I was actually going to get them all done this past early spring at the spay/neuter event from the animal shelter.  Except, all my furry ladies were already pregnant by the time of the event!!

Tonight I am thankful for a love that endures a little more sneezing so that my kitties can live in the house!!  He really surprised me tonight!  I thought this would be a major negotiation or discussion.  But no, he just said yes 🙂  ❤  This means so much!  He hadn’t even known how much until he saw my reaction!