Twenty-six big ones ago, Benjamin Keahi was born. Unbeknown to me of course (I still had a month in heaven)
October ninth 1982 was the best thing that ever happened to me. It is plain strange to think that I spent twenty-one of these years without him. But the years apart turned him into the man I married- Yes!
So, I just wanted to wish him a
BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY! The girls and I could not do without him. We need him every day. We love him.
His birthday dinner of choice this year was carne asada tacos, and apple and pecan pie with vanilla ice cream.
It was a "mighty fine" meal (to steal the Texas phrase).
AND NOW: 26 Reasons Why I LOVE Ben (In honor of his 26 years of course)1. He sings loud and jubilantly when one of his favorite songs is playing, and he usually never gets the lyrics completely right.
2. He randomly starts doing dance moves while getting things done around the house, and believe me, they are worth watching.
3. He loves Otter Pops so much he eats three or four at a time. He even eats them in the shower.
4. He is the only one who can simply raise his eye brows in answer to a yes or no question and I know what the answer is.
5. He lets me talk and talk and talk and talk and talk......
6. He listens and listens and listens and listens.....
7. He allows me a couple dunks (but just a couple) in his
"OREO" milk. This is a big sacrifice if you know how much Ben loves his Oreos and the milk that goes with them.
7. He chops my onions for me when I start to cry.
8. He wipes my real tears when they aren't because of onions.
9. He has a thoughtful heart. When I was pregnant with Scout and I was feeling very, well, NOT cute, he came home from work with a brown paper bag. He handed it to me and said,
"Here is some perfume so you can feel beautiful." Just that statement made me laugh until I felt better.
10. He believes in me.
11. He has a "perfect food" for almost every situation. (i.e.
Peanut M&M's are the best study food,
A Granny's pink cookie and Sprite are best when working outside on a hot summer day,
Yogurt is best after everything you eat, and
Oreos (six oreos to be exact) are good with milk at about 10:00 pm at night).
12. He talks about his dreams and goals as if they were already his, and he relates them with passion.
13. He believes less is more. (Especially when we go on vacation and I pack the house).
14. One time when I thought there was a robber in our first house he said he would go upstairs where I heard the noise and check it out. He came back down to our room and said there wasn't anything, but after a minute admitted to taking a knife with him.
15. He stayed up with me until one in the morning trying to catch a little mouse that wanted to move in with us. He even let me pray that we would catch it. We did.
16. He loves his daughters and teaches them what is right. The other day, I overheard a conversation he was having with Scout:
Scout: "Dad, where are you going?"
Dad: "To work."
Scout: "Why?"
Dad: "So you can have food and clothes. Do you want food and clothes?"
Scout: "No."
Dad: "Well, you will make a good wife someday."
His little joke kept me laughing and smiling for at least an hour.
17. He does not depart from right.
18. He cleans the toilet and the tub.
19. He makes fabulous fried rice.
20. He serves and sacrifices.
21. He wants to be great.
22. He explains international exchange rates and other economic principles to me even though I don't understand. I just smile.
23. He likes to try new things. Except sometimes he believes with his LEATHERMAN he can do anything, and I caught him trying to cut his fingernails with the knife- I told him to stop.
24. He is patient with me.
25. He is kind, determined, funny without meaning to be, simple, sweet, and true. (I had to squeeze a few more in)
26. He loves me.
Yes, October 9th was the best thing that ever happened to me.
Here is to another GREAT year!!
Saggy in the middle. It was a sign of things to come.
