Random Romanticisms

Hubby and I celebrated our 5th anniversary back in September.  Actually, we didn't really celebrate, it just kind of slipped by with a quick exchange of cards.  Hubby was busy helping someone move so he didn't have time to do anything else.  Since then, he's been too busy harvesting to stop so I'm still waiting for him to slow down so I can kidnap him for a real date.  Seriously, our last date was on our 4th wedding anniversary and before that....I can't even remember when the time before that was.

Lucky for Hubby, I'm not a terribly romantic person.  Oh sure, I cry over chick flicks and at weddings.  I love romance, but the big gestures are not what get me (although I most certainly wouldn't turn them down!)  It's the little things that turn me to mush.

Like several weeks ago when Hubby, on his own accord, swept and mopped the kitchen floor.  For the first time ever.  He mopped so hard that he broke my mop.  And I did not care, because it was the. most. romantic. thing. ever.

Or when he takes the garbage up to the dumpster so I don't have to do it.  Seeing him do that turns my knees weak.

One of the most romantic things he does is be a dad to our two beautiful children.  Watching a big manly man take care of a tiny baby or roughhouse on the floor with his energetic children...*Blissful sigh*

We dated for four years before he popped the question.  I knew he wasn't terribly romantic even back then, but I was okay with it.  He did make a point to try to call me every night, but with his busy schedule at work and The Farm, our dates were usually limited to him taking me to church and church activities.  I knew that his route on his way home from work everyday took him by the library so, more than once, I would sit on the library steps just hoping to get a glimpse of him as he drove by, his mind too focused what needed to be done at the farm that evening to notice me.  Pathetic?  Probably.  But just seeing him brightened my day.

And then, one night he asked if he could come over to my apartment with a movie to celebrate my birthday.  My birthday wasn't for another month, but, as it falls right in the middle of the spring planting season, he said he wanted to celebrate while he still could take the time to.  Red heart shaped flags planted themselves in my mind as I nonchalantly agreed.  I had suspicions about what he was planning, but I didn't let myself think about it too much in case I was wrong.  That night, he showed up at my door with a small gift bag and a copy of "Sweet Home Alabama"  I put the gift bag on the table to open later and noted how heavy it was.  Too heavy for a ring.  My heart sank a little, but I was still determined to enjoy this time spent alone with him.  We had made plans to go out for supper, but the only nice-ish restaurant in town was packed so we picked up to-go meals at the bowling alley and returned to my apartment to watch the dvd.  Halfway through the movie, he paused it and asked if I'd like to open my gift now.  Why not?  I reached into the bag and pulled out......a rock.  No, not that kind of rock.  A real rock, from the driveway.  Ooooookay.  My mind was going in a million different directions as he laughed and told me that it was only there to throw me off.  I can clearly remember how I felt when I pulled out a small black velvet jewelry box and opened it, half expecting another necklace.  It wasn't.  He looked nervous as he asked, "Will you?  Will you marry me?"  And there was absolutely no question in my mind as to the answer.

By the way...we finished the movie after that, but I had to re-watch it later because I pretty much missed the last half due to extreme excitement and calling everyone I knew (and some people I didn't) to tell them the good news.  This is one of my favorite movies now.

Oh, and I should add that he did ask my dad permission first.  Love that.