Just a Couple of Pickles: #3 Love is Not Selfish

Whatever you put your time, energy, and money into will become more important to you. It’s hard to care for something you are not investing in. Along with restraining from negative comments, buy your spouse something that says, “I was thinking of you today.”

Andrew and I love random acts of kindness…just because. And we love the spontaneity in our relationship So this dare came easy for us…or so I thought. Again, it’s harder to be spontaneous or creative when being told to do something. I struggled a little on this day.

As I was driving home from my hearing aid appointment, I began to think of things I could get Andrew as I was passing Target, Whole Foods, Starbucks, a few bookstores, and the mall. Could I simply get him his favorite candy Gummy Bears! I always give him gummy bears when I do this act on my own. I have to be creative. Needless to say, I had to hurry back so we could work out before he and his class had dinner with the usual insurance sellers. Andrew finished before I did and headed home to shower and get ready. I came home and saw the dry cleaners receipt on the fridge and it clicked…oh my gosh, I can’t believe I forgot to pick up his dry cleaners a few days ago when he kindly asked me to do him a favor. He never asked again, so this was my dare. I picked up all his shirts and thought “how can I go the extra mile”…it wouldn’t be fair for me to do something he already asked me to. I decided to organize his closet like mine…each category colored from darks to lights – even his shoes. It was a mess, but I love organizing messes. I must have gotten this organizing trait from my mom.

Some of my crazy cleaning/organizing habits – clean up dishes while I’m cooking so when we eat, there’s not a mess to look at; organize the pantry every time we go grocery shopping (Andrew knows not to even try to put away a can of soup); make up the bed as soon as I get up and sometimes make it up while I crawl out; organize closets just for fun; and even at work…my desk has to be perfectly straightened up before I leave.

I cleaned up a little, took a shower, and waited around for Andrew to come home. I always crave some type of desert or munchies after dinner (I eat every couple of hours). Being on a Dave Ramsey budget…we don’t have much to splurge on the after dinner munchies. I was actually thinking, “it’d be nice if Andrew brought home desert.” And, ironically enough…he did!! A yummy banana/tropical crepe! So sweet! I actually thought that was his dare for the day. Come to find out…he didn’t read that day’s dare. The next night, I was at work and he emailed me and said he just got finished working out and was working on something for me. I came home and went to bed to see 4 coupons he made for me they were for a Free night without the fan on in the bedroom, watch Jon and Kate Plus 8 with me and maybe throw in a foot rub, free apartment cleaning – kitchen, bathrooms, and all, and my favorite, $60 coupon to take me dress shopping for the upcoming weddings (he picks out the dress)!