through the years

Tomorrow marks sixteen years of marriage with a great man. Honestly, I'm not just spouting off. I never, in my younger years, thought I'd find that fairytale guy. As of late, I read so many women's magazines with articles about "No such thing as Prince Charming", "You can't find your soulmate", blah blah blah. Hooey! Found him. God yes, none of us are perfection personified, but each of us is perfect for someone else. Here are some of the qualities I admire in a man, and therefore in my man....
Loyalty to a fault. My husband stands up for me no matter what. And I'm not exaggerating. No matter what. If I'm wrong, he'll still fight for me because I am his wife. I love that.
Sense of humor. He is one of the funniest, most sarcastic people I know. The kids and I can quote his many sayings, like "there's a butt for every seat". One of my favorite things to do is sit back and watch him tell funny stories to his friends. Yes I've heard most of them many, many times; but there is no one who can weave a tale like my husband.
Strength. Mentally and physically. I dig it. It's manly.
Perserverance. Never, ever, ever gives up. On people and on himself. He is a powderkeg of determination. The pitbull of men.
Kindness. Something I see a lot and one of the first things that drew me in his direction (other than that cleft chin, great eyes, and a magnetic smile). He goes out of his way to help people. He is a natural volunteer. It makes him happy when he can help. I love that. My dad was my role model for what a man should be, and my husband has my dad's giving heart. Lucky, lucky me.
I could ramble on until your eyes roll back in your head, but fact is, it's been a terrific sixteen years. We are still raising our kids and watching them grow into fantastic adults. We deal with life's peaks and valleys, but we deal with them together. That is the beauty of a good marriage, love sprinkled with commitment. I'm happy I found it.