Daydreams

Some girls want to marry someone who can take care of them.
A banker. A lawyer. A doctor.
They want the money. The house. The car. 2.5 kids, one dog, and a beautiful modern home on the outskirts of the city.
One acre, tops, that the gardener/landscaper will now once a week while he tends to the flowers and shrubbery.
A daycare to send the kids to as both parents work outside the home. A quiet house to relax in at night. A husband who leaves for work in a suit, carrying a briefcase and who grabs a couple drinks in the hotel bar during business trips.


Not me.


When I close my eyes, I see a curly-haired man with laughing eyes and a crooked smile.
He's wearing a dirty hat, boots, and well-worn jeans. Behind him is a house with a wrap-around porch. Behind that, a barn. There are horses, cattle, dogs, maybe even some sheep, chickens, and goats.
Along one edge of the acres and acres of land is a wooded area. A river runs through it, and our six children can be found laughing and swimming and playing there every day during the summer.
In the evening, my husband comes into the house sweaty from working in the fields and taking care of the animals. The kids and I help his as much as possible when they're not at school and I'm not taking care of the house.
The dinner table is full of laughter as we talk about our days, the children and their father speaking with those endearing accents that they'll never lose, no matter how far from home their lives may lead them.
Sunset finds my husband and I sitting on the porch, watching the kids play with each other, the dogs running at their feet. As it gets darker, mason jars with holes in the lid are filled with fireflies, carefully counted to see who has the most.
the neighbors are just far enough that we can barely see their houses in the winter, when all the trees are bare, but close enough that the children can walk or ride their bikes to each others' houses to play.

Life is loud, hectic, chaotic.
But laughter is the loudest thing you can hear.
Money is tight.
But we never go without the things we need.
Every day is different. Some easy, some hard.
But they each have the consistency of family and love.

And I wouldn't have it any other way.

Just Me...

I'm clumsy.
My hair never cooperates and my nails always break.
I like colors that are too bright and accent them with colors that are too dark.
I carry purses that are far too big, and keep them filled with items that are far too heavy.
I have zero attention span and I stay up too late at night.
I'm constantly forgetting things or getting sidetracked.
I suck at math and with money.
I laugh too easily and I talk too loud.
I jump into things headfirst, without thinking at all.
I'm stubborn as a mule and I'll be the last to admit I'm wrong.
I pick fights when I feeling like I'm being put down.
I'm an instigator and a troublemaker.
I have terrible handwriting.
I hate dusting and my ironing sucks.


But if you can look past all that and let me in...


I'll love you with my whole heart.
I'll smile easily and laugh quickly.
I'll hug you often and dance for no reason.
I'll be happiest when enjoying the little things in life.
I'll always try to find the bright side of things and I'll never let you cry alone.
I'll buy you things at the store for no reason.
I'll sing silly songs with you in the car and run with you in the rain.
I'll go out of my way to see you.
I'll cook for you and let you have my share of dessert.
I'll answer the phone at 3am when you're on your way home from work and just want to talk.
I'll always give you the benefit of the doubt.
I'll stand up for what I believe in, and I'll stand up for you.
I'll give you all of me.
Always.