Irreplaceable

My husband that is.  A few posts back I was tagged and tagged again to answer some questions.  In that post I answered this question:  

 Do you believe there is one right person for us to marry (promises in heaven and such) or do you think that any two people willing to put forth the effort could make any marriage work? 

You can see my answer HERE.   Basically I answered that there aren't two specific people for one another, as in a fairy tale, but that we could be married to many people and make it work.  

Well, my sweet, sweet husband brought it to my attention that he thought I was rather cavalier about my answer.  Somewhat shocked, was his response to my response.  

So this post is dedicated to my adoring husband who was meant for me and only me, and I for him, of course.  

Here is our Story

A shortened version if you will...or not so short. 

Many years ago about fifteen to be exact, I was a girl who was a little bit lost.  When I first saw Kirk in our Geology class in college I loved him.  You think I'm exaggerating, but I'm not.  I was drawn to him, like in a fairy tale, yes a fairy tale.
Kirk was born and raised in the LDS church, or Mormon church if you want.  I was not.  I loved everything about Kirk.  He was generous and thoughtful. (Thoughtful as in his first gift to me was a homemade quilt he made with his mom).  He was fun, funny, helpful and patient.  He treated his mom with great respect and it was very apparent.

I'd never met a young man like him.  What was different about him?  Why was he different?  He was good and happy and loved life.  I asked him if I could go to church with him and the minute I walked through those doors I felt something I'd never felt before.  Many people call it by different names, we call it the spirit or the Holy Ghost.  Sound corny, well I thought so at first too.  That's okay.  

I learned about the church through what we call the discussions and I wanted to be baptized.  For the next while after this, things were rough.  I can't go into it completely as it's very personal but I can say that making this conversion was hard.  I had one foot in my previous life and one foot in the new.  I was learning to live by new standards that I loved and I believed but still life can be hard this way.  You can know something with all of your heart and still be pulled in directions that are hard to stay away from.  

Kirk was patient, sad, lonely, and confused, I'm sure.  I actually didn't see him very much after I was baptized into the church.  And then something happened, a miracle a spiritual conversion if you will and I came running.  Not just to Kirk but more importantly to my Savior Jesus Christ.  And I've never looked back.  Sound corny again, I know, I never thought in a million years I'd be saying things like this.  But, I am and I love it.  

We were married in the Oakland Temple on June 12th, 1999,  for what we believe to be "All Time and Eternity."   That's a long time right?  So to start it's best if you pick a great match.  And I did.  

I went to college first, at Santa Clara University.  He went when I was done and we also had had our first son already.  He finished college and worked really hard to do so.  He was working full time at IBM and was going to San Jose State at night to finish up his degree in Net Work Engineering.  

 

We've now been married for almost thirteen years.  We have six children together, but even though our children take up most of our time and our marriage, this post is about us two, just us, for a minute.

I love so much about us.  One thing I love is that when the kids are down for the night we do something together, whether it be talking, watching a show or talking (mostly what we do at night-to catch up on what's going on).  We don't usually do "our own thing."  We're somewhat attached at the hip or I'm attached at his hip.  I love it, because I hate being alone. Remember I was an only child most of my life so there's no need to be alone, been there done that.  Now my husband on the other had comes from a family of nine children, him being the last.  I figure he's so use to being around people, he doesn't know anything different so here I am by his side whenever I can be.  Like I said, "he knows no different." :)

 

Often people describe Kirk as being reserved or shy.  Reserved, yes, shy-no.  But, with his wife, he talks and talks and talks and talks.  I came home the other night from a church mid week meeting which was about being the "best you can be in your marriage."  We laid in bed for two hours talking about the meeting. Kirk loves to talk with me.  And I love that about him because he's an emotional support which keeps us close.
Kirk and I were meant for each other.  When he comes home from work he always, always, finds me (usually in the kitchen) wraps his arms around me, kisses me and looks me in the eyes and asks me how I am.  Always.  He's a great father, the best really.  He's also hilarious, not many have seen his shenanigans save his wife, and his children, his brother Kraig and great friend/sister Kerri.  But, he frequently does these dances across the kitchen floor that are too much for words to even describe, he reads all of our family novels in this Southern accent that's not quite right but it's hilarious.  And then the two of us together can get a little out of hand with me belting out my British accent that I long to have, singing with it, or shouting orders with at the kids, and Kirk's right behind me trying to keep up, but his British accent always comes out Southern?

He loves Jane Austin and Downton Abbey is his favorite show; well next to Top Gear and Myth Busters. His Sister, Kerri, calls us "Ken and Lesly" (Kirk's parents) because if we watch anything it's always British Television, just like his parents.  But, he also does all of the work on our cars; brakes, oil, and tune ups.
See, he's very manly along with his love for Jane Austin.

  He tells me he loves me everyday, after every phone conversation and he always kisses me goodnight.  Do we have moments of contention, of course, but not many.  Mainly when we start talking about politics, which we aren't always on the same page about, but luckily for him I'm more conservative than I use to be (dad I"m sorry, I know that's killing you) so we can talk more politics than before.

We have the rare argument, usually over a miss communication, but we don't stay upset with each other, ever.  This is so long.  But, really short compared to what I could have included.
I could say he's my best friend, which is true.  But, even more he's my companion for this life and forever.  I will love him in the ups and downs.  And I love him more than anything for having faith in me, to marry me, and to hold me dear to his heart to this day and onward, I'm sure of it.

I love you Kirk, forever.