I was just thinking about what a wonderfully blessed family I have. Especially in regards to the woman I'm married to. I'm writing this to let her know publicly how tremendously wonderful she is. Let me explain why she is so amazing.Our typical daily activity:
I get up at 5:00 ish every morning. I quickly and quietly get myself ready for school and sneak out the door in hopes that I don't awake Erin or the boys. After you here the rest of my account a better understanding of my sneakiness will be understood. I then remain at work/school from 5:30 AM until about 5:00 PM. Depending on traffic and patient's I get home anywhere from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM. While I'm away Erin gets up with the kids and gets them ready for each days activities. This includes grooming, clothing, breakfast, and their whining demands (very frequent whining demands). She then plans, organizes, and executes daily activities to help the boys learn, grow, and not go crazy. She also takes care of our food, supplies, and most of our bills. She then wrestles with Peyton each afternoon trying to get him to take a much needed nap at the same time Porter, I'm sure, is continually prodding for more this or that (usually game time on the computer). Once the boys are both awake again she begins again the list of tasks and activities mentioned above. Oh, did I mention in this crazy schedule she finds time to do the laundry, clean the house, all at the same time encouraging our boys to learn, from her example, important lessons in life regarding responsibility and hard work. After noticing that the day is coming closer to the time I get to return home, she commences the labor of preparing a wonderful family dinner that will be ready in time for my arrival. She does this I know to ensure that we can all eat around the table together as a family. She does this even though she'll often get a call saying I might be a little later than planned due to lab work or traffic. If I do get home late she always has a plate waiting for me ready to eat. We then spend the next couple hours together as a family doing as much as we can together. We say our prayers and read our scriptures and, depending on the work load I have, we help each other put the kids to bed or she puts the kids to bed. Usually she take the more difficult child, Peyton; because she knows how much I have to try to accomplish with the little time left in the day. I then descend to my cave and read for the next couple hours until I can no longer keep my eyes open. Erin spends this time as her much needed personal time. Often staying up as late as I in order to get to talk with one another before we go to bed. It never fails that not too long after we fall asleep Peyton awakes. Often I don't hear him, but I know that it happens as I awake and pass through the living room only to find Erin and Peyton on the couch fast asleep. Both exhausted from another short interrupted night.
I mention this because it truly exhausts me to think about how crappy our life may seem and how uninviting, to most women, Erin's life may appear; and to most I think they would "never put up with it." Erin does more than just put up with it...she makes it seem wonderful. Our life has followed a very similar pattern for the past 4.5 years and I know I can count on 1 hand, maybe 1 finger the times that I've heard her complain. I know I've done more complaining and expressed my stress way more often than she. She is amazing as accepting our situation and making the best of it (that sounds a lot like some other perfect being we all know and love) She's always encouraging me to do better and thanking me for working so hard. She is the closest I'll ever be to someone or something so perfect. She is supportive and positive which allows the rest of our family greater ability to do the same. I can't express enough how wonderfully perfect she is.
I felt like I should write this and I think it was a great exercise. It let me see really how much she does for myself and our family each day. She is probably one of the least selfish people I've ever met.
I love you Erin.
7 comments:
Lynn, you have one of the best! She's a gem and one of the most talented people I've met.
I would agree! I've never bet anyone as wonderful as Erin. And any husband who would write that about his wife has to be just as great.
This sounds so familiar! Ben and I were talking just the other day about how wives of graduate students cannot be selfish. There will be a lot of time missed by Dad, and I think what keeps me going is that things will not always be this way. Actually, I think the moms are too busy to think at all sometimes!
One of the dangers of starting a family when in grad school is that it is a very selfish time for the student, as your post shows. I've noticed sometimes, that when I come home I sit down and Shaunie is still going crazy with the kids. But I've been much better at not doing that over the last year or so. I'm doing what I can to make sure that I don't form habits that, after I'm graduated, would perpetuate the grad school lifestyle. In other words, When I'm finally done and working, when I'm home I will be home, and not watching sports or reading or wanting to go golfing (I'll never golf), but spending time with Shaunie and the kids. I guess I'm also trying to say that once I'm done, the focus will be the needs of Shaunie and the family since they indulged my desire to continue going to school. Good work Lynn. I had awesome room-mates in Rexburg.
Well, Erin, if that doesn't make you cry then I don't know what will. I was almost crying at how touching that was. You are an amazing woman. I miss having you around to be such a great example!
that was so nice. erin is a very good wife and mom. love you erin!
Lynn,that was so sweet! Love to you and Erin ( and the boys) Mom
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