I’m browsing the footsie pajamas when he calls.
“I just walked in, where are you?”
He finds me melting over matching boys T-shirts that say, “Future Prince Charming.” I worry that he might make fun, but then notice he’s got a toy husky pup clutched in hand. As if Micah needs another one.
“But look how cute it is,” and we both agree, Micah would be smitten. But we also agree that our overly affectionate, nearly two-year-old does not need yet one more dog to crowd his crib or the diaper bag.
We wander the aisles. Leisurely. His hand brushes up against mine. He laughs a joke in my ear. Luxurious, this being together without our children crowding out our conversation, our space. Suddenly picking out deodorant is the most intimate, romantic of moments. Because we are doing it together, at our own pace. Utterly unhurried.
I catch a glimpse of myself in an overpriced mirror. My hair has taken on a life of its own – unruly as our boys. Sans lipstick or jewelry or flattering lighting it is a true reflection of me. And this, this is the person he smiles at across the checkout counter. This is the person he hugs close in the parking lot. He smells of the cologne counter. Just like he did when we were students, sampling the overpriced perfumes. He used to have me smell many a different spot on his neck, jaw, chin. A heady concoction. It’s a treat to visit those places again. In a snowy parking lot. In the middle of the afternoon.
Lisa-Jo, ‘Love the tenderness here. You’ve captured the way I feel when I’m with my sweetie and doing the most ordinary things.
This gave me chills, moments like that are what we now live for, for us and our marriage. They make all the difference in the world. Thank you for capturing wedded bliss post children so well :)
If wedded bliss is the parking lot outside of Target, we were so there today!
Ahhh, true love. Like you, I am still smitten with my man, even with all our kiddos underfoot. We must make the most of that blessed ‘couple time’ no matter where it might happen… thanks for the incredibly sweet reminder :)
Indeed! And I only have two kids. I bet you would have some really creative tips to share for squeezing couple time out of a day made up of eight children!
Loved this – totally reminds me of my Hubby and I. We’re perfectly content to spend our alone time browsing the clearance racks or walking down the book aisle. Praise the Lord for a man who loves it just as much as we do. :)
Ooo, book stores – we could totally live in one of those happily ever after!
Wonderful date afternoon!
I loved loved this post… and I relate as well, though I don’t have the pressure of kids. You never know what kind of mundane every day task ends up romantic. I love it. Marriage is so underrated. :)
We don’t have kids either, but man, Target is one of our favorite places to go together. Ha, I had no idea that Target had become date night central across the country. ;) Also, I just had this revelation about how the me that my husband loves is the one with the strange, just-woke-up hair and this morning’s mascara already under my eyes. It’s a good life, isn’t it? :)
Soooo good! ;)
Love this post! I can relate, as I am an American married to a South African living in France. My husband was raised here as a missionary kid, and I came to serve with the same mission. Our family is a crazy mix of Afrikaans-French-American culture! It can be strange and hard (but so much fun); thanks for touching on that. So thankful for the God who unites us regardless of language, geography, and culture. And we just had a baby girl, so life just got more interesting…
Oops, I meant to comment on “Your people shall be my people.”