There is something so special and unique about Nathan and I. He touches my heart and my mind. He knows and seeks to know every part of who I am. He is not afraid of my truths, my past, and he is so excited about my present. When we talk, he wants to hear what I have to say. So many people tell me that Nathan only treats me this way because we're newly married and that he'll settle in eventually and he won't be the same anymore. Call me naive but I don't believe that. Nathan is a giver and he loves to see the people he cares about enjoying their lives. He still does sweet things for his mother and thinks about what she might appreciate. He knows how important it is to call his grandmother and talk to her for as long as she wants to talk. He loves to hear the women in his life tell the stories of the day. Nathan doesn't dote over me because we're newly married, he dotes because that is who he is.
Just after lunch yesterday I was sitting at my desk chatting briefly with a couple of the ladies at the office when the flower delivery man arrived with the biggest bunch of Gerber Daisies that I have ever seen. The card on the delivery said, "To the love of my life - Happy Birthday! Love, Nathan". It reminded me of our first week together. Long before marriage and deployments, Nathan gave me a beautiful bouquet of Gerber Daisies, my favorite flower. There was one flower for each day that we had known one another. He just wanted me to have flowers. He just wanted me to know that he appreciated me and that I was beautiful. I won't ever forget that. More than remembering, I don't think I'll ever be able to take Nathan for granted. He knows what I need and when I need it. He is quick to apologize when he knows he was wrong and he is firm in his correction of me when we both know that I am wrong.
Yesterday was marked with Nathan's sweet side and this morning was marked with his intellectual side. We spent the majority of our morning commute talking about foreign affairs. Never in my life have I spent time with a man who had the insight to send me flowers and then talk wars and politics. That is just the thing about Nathan, he knows all of me, not just parts. He knows that I appreciate the flowers and the little notes and the surprise gifts. He also knows that I have much to say about the goings on of the world. He knows that an evening of Fox News and a heated discussion is just as important to me as a night out at a fancy restaurant. He knows that the morning standings from last night's ball games are as crucial to our connection as his words of love and his longing to be home with me. Nathan knows that the headlines of this morning's paper, the stats of last night's game, and how much I miss him and ache for his return are all things that are running through my mind at any given moment and he is willing to dive into any or all of those topics whenever I'm ready.
Nathan has been and always will be the only man who could touch every part of who I am in a way that mattered to me. Nathan is my best friend and he would tell you that I am his. We fit together well because it all matters to both of us. If it is important to Nathan, it is important to me and vice versa. We don't always agree but we always try to understand one another. I want to know where he is coming from. I appreciate his opinions and his thoughts and I know that he appreciates mine. We have mutual respect for one another and that is so comforting. We both desire to serve one another and to put the other's needs above our own. I'm so grateful for Nathan and for the way that he loves me. I am grateful for flowers, baseball and foreign affairs.
