The "perfect" man

As usual, of most little girls turned young women, I dreamt of the day I would find my Romeo, my night in shining armor, my future husband. Now those of you who know me know that I kissed a lot of frogs, hoping to find my forever in one of them. All the while my friends and Mom wiped away my tears after each one and they told me about how one day I'd find the perfect man. My mother especially reassuring me I'd discover a guy who would find my snort adorable, along with all my other quirks.
Now I will tell you I wanted to believe them all, sure I'd find that guy one day. All the while in the back of my head thinking what I'd really have to do was settle for someone who didn't find me completely annoying.

Well after many bad dates and lots of inpatient patience, I did stumble across that man. What I am finding along the way ( 15 months into our relationship and 6 months into our engagement) is that he is perfect.... for me. NONE of us are perfect and we can't search for someone who is, they DO NOT exist. But finding the one who is perfect for you.... (to be cheesy is) PRICELESS.

I know that Chris finds my snort adorable and listens ( and I'm sure silently laughs) at my random spatting of statistics. He loves me for exactly who I am and we are learning to love the other's hobbies too. I have gone to the airport to watch planes take off and land more than I can count and find myself watching to see if they are in a holding pattern or not. But probably the cutest thing, and made me laugh the hardest was this..

I am a lover of books, Chris .. not so much. I asked if he would ever listen to an audiobook with me and he said no thanks, that he wouldn't like it. Well with my parents being several hours away and us taking trips there, I snuck a book I hadn't  quite finished in the car. He obliged and let me listen, I told him it would only be til it got to a slow part, then we could turn on the radio. Well when it was time to turn it off, he said "no no we can keep listening". Now if you've ever listened to an audiobook, they tend to be longer than our trips to Tennessee and back. So this particular book we finished together over a couple of evenings. WELL the last trip we took to Tennessee, we were MINUTES from finishing but we were EXHAUSTED. So we turned it off and the next day when I asked when he wanted to finish he tells me, "oh I already did, it just turned on when I was headed to work this morning..."
I could help but laugh. I couldn't believe he has finished without me, the guy who doesn't listen to audiobooks, but how could I be mad?

Long story short.... The perfect man isn't perfect but he's perfect for you.

"Glorified Housewife"

It was not too long ago that I came back from doing mission work in Canada (before N. Dakota) and was talking with someone about my experience. They told me I had gone up there to just be a "glorified housewife", the comparison being - I was "unpaid" and doing laundry, cooking, ect. They didn't understand. For a long time this comment didn't sit right with me. How do you explain to someone that you are doing what God is asking you to do, even if it is "just laundry". No, I don't have a college education or a super high paying job and I don't drive a fancy car but I do find happiness and joy in where God is taking me.
Regardless, the comment has always been in the back of my mind. Especially now that I am a nanny, and was highlighted when I called to try and get a loan for a car and the woman said, "well you are JUST a nanny". Well just the other day it all came together for me.
 I am called, by God, to be a Glorified Housewife, a housewife for the GLORY of God. 

Every moment of my life has been leading me to my calling. From my parents way of raising me (even though I hated it while it was happening, not understanding why I had so many rules) to every other aspect in my life. Always being drawn to Our Lady, the ultimate "housewife" and mother. Mission work, learning to make things last, being organize and making do with what you are given. Culinary school, being able to cook and the always love that I have had for preparing meals. The list goes on and on...
So this comment, though not meant in a good way at the time, has made it's beautiful full circle. Realizing that it truly is my calling to be a Glorified Housewife.