Love is . . .

• patient and love is kind (1 Cor. 13:4-7).
• putting out the trash cans.
• putting down the toilet seat.
• carrying down the heavy baskets of dirty laundry on Monday morning.
• holding your tongue when, for the umpteenth time, your wife questions your love for her because you agonized so long over the decision to marry her.
• holding your wife’s hair back when she is suffering from morning sickness or the stomach flu.
• cleaning up from the stomach flu.
• holding hands.
• changing dirty diapers.
• giving a hug even when you’re mad.
• daily phone calls.
• emptying the trashcan even when you think your wife should be able to stomp on the trash and fit a little more in.
• putting a new liner in the trashcan.
• an evening of American Pickers and Blue Diamond Almonds.
• sleeping in the guest room so that The Littles can have cuddle time with mom.
• scrubbing the shower.
• putting your dirty clothes in the hamper instead of the floor.
• buying a wedding ring for your wife even though you didn’t want to.
• shaving your head before it looks scruffy.
• using deodorant daily.
• brushing your teeth more than you think you need to because your wife likes minty breath.
• going to estate sales and patiently watching the kids so your wife can browse at her leisure.
• not complaining when your wife buys things at estate sales.
• bravely breaking out of “holding patterns.”
• Quiddler.
• Mother’s Night Out.
• not chomping ice in your wife’s ear.
• Cristina’s when you’d rather have Market Street.
• overlooking the dirty dishes in the sink.
• washing the dirty dishes in the sink.
• putting up with an elderly cat.
• comforting your wife when her elderly cat died.
• trips to the ER with your wife after Tad was born.
• eating mediocre beef stew.
• never giving your wife a reason to doubt your fidelity.
• Text Twist.
• doing yard work.
• hiring Mario to do the yard work.
• learning how to grow a garden.
• being frugal.
• knowing when not to be frugal.
• Half-Price Books.
• helping with Math homework.
• giving an opinion.
• knowing when to stay silent.
• hanging doors together.
• supporting our family even when the job is stressful.
• letting your wife pluck your old man eyebrows.
• taking family pictures.
• smiling when taking family pictures.
• late-night surprise stops for frozen yogurt.
• letting your wife wear your sweats and gym socks.
• BLT.
• writing notes to your wife and leaving them in unexpected places.
• using the yellow towel and not the blue one.
• cleaning the top of the ceiling fans without being asked.
• not answering the phone at the dinner table.
• knowing when to set the family history work aside and pay attention to your wife.
• eternal.