If You Wanna Know If He Loves You So...

My husband and I celebrated our seventh anniversary today. Throughout our courtship and marriage he has always been very good about SAYING, "I love you," but...

sometimes, ACTIONS speak louder than words.

Kendon is always doing things around the house that silently say, I love you. He cooks. He cleans. He does laundry. He watches the kids so I can have my time. He turns the van around on Sunday mornings so I don't have to tromp through the mud to get in. He makes sure my side of the bed is warm before I climb in. These are all ways he silently and daily says, "I love you."


Well, here are three more examples of Kendon's actions that have spoken, even screamed, I love you.

Kendon proposed to me on November 19, 2000 just before I went home for Thanksgiving. He wanted me to be able to show off my ring while I was in Boise. He sure did know me well for I had a grand ole time flashing the beautiful diamond to anyone who would look. I can also remember enjoying the five hour drive to Boise much more than usual for I had nothing else to do or worry about besides staring at my newly adorned finger the whole way home.

I had a great Thanksgiving with my family but missed Kendon dearly. I recall sitting on my parent's couch one afternoon and engaging in a tackle/tickle war with my dad. (Something I remember with fondness from my childhood.) I was losing, as usual and was in need of some help. I remember saying to my dad, "I'm going to sic Kendon on you." My dad replied, "Well, Kendon's not here." That was all it took for my longing for him to overflow. The tears welled up and I was a love-sick mess.

By the time the weekend was over, I was sad to say goodbye to my family but very anxious to get back to Kendon. Little did I know that he had been painstakingly preparing for my arrival while I was gone.

Anyone who knows Kendon, knows that he has a passion for hunting. He especially loves hunting elk. He has two prize elk racks that he loved showing off on his walls in his front room. My dad is not a hunter. I didn't grow up in a home decorated with any type of animal trophies. And while animal racks were not my idea of home decor, this was still Kendon's home and I had never asked Kendon to take his racks down. (I had mentioned a time or two that they were so HUGE that I would hit my head while vacuuming. Hey, why was I vacuuming his house before we were even married anyway?!?!)
Well, when I walked in his door that first day back from my trip, there was an emptiness to that front room. There where his pride and joy used to take dominance, was a hole. There on the wall where his two elk racks USED to hang, hung NOTHING. While making room on his walls, he was also opening his heart and making more room for me. In that instant, standing there, looking at his blank wall, I knew. I knew he loved me.


Another real labor of love for Kendon was when he had to sell his beautiful maroon full size truck. This was his dream truck (Almost!) and one he had been wanting for a long time. He loved driving this truck and said I looked sexy driving it too! Well, with Meg on the way we were in need of a more family oriented vehicle. Of course, it was Kendon's truck that had to go. We traded his love affair in and devastated Kendon's heart by buying a mini van. Definitely a moment when I knew Kendon loved me and that our family's needs always come first.



Just last week Kendon silently proclaimed his love for me and his family again. Kendon's second passion after hunting would be kayaking. The first time he hit the water in a kayak, he was smitten. He loved the adrenaline rush of the sport and really enjoyed spending time with his buddies, and especially his brother on the water. He spent countless hours in his boats "playing on the waves" and perfecting his roll.

Since we have had kids his time for kayaking has decreased to zero. It has been years since he has hit the water. Kayaking isn't really a family oriented sport and is something that would take away a lot of time from his family. He was just waiting for life to slow down and his kids to grow up a little and he could get back in the boats. Well, life doesn't slow down, and our kids ARE growing up and he wants to be able to spend as much time with us as he can. So, he sold the kayaks and all his gear. With the money that he made he bought me a bow so that I can join him and Connor on the archery range. We are going to buy Sirri a bow like Connor's this spring as well. I'm so thankful that Kendon wants and encourages the kids and me to tag along and join him on the archery range. I'm thankful he likes to be with us. I know that he longed to get in those boats one more time, but his desire to be with his family, spending time doing something we can all do together was a stronger desire.

I HEAR your actions Kendon. And I love you too.

Happy Anniversary.