Ben Ten

"Ben Ten" is a nickname someone gave to Ben, but I'm not sure who.

Anyway, Ben and I are officially in our FOURTH year of marriage.  It’s amazing.  I love him more dearly every day.  In light of our recently celebrated third anniversary I decided to make a list of the top 10 things I love about Benny.

 

Ben Top Ten

 

10) I love his eyes.  He has these wonderful almond eyes that are the prettiest shade of green.  Maybe Adry will be so lucky J.

 9) I love how he can be so goofy.  True, his sense of humor is so cliché BOY but I love it anyway.  I don’t think I could ever put up with someone too serious for too long. 
 

 

8) Benjamin is totally into music, and I 100% appreciate that.  His style of music is TOTALLY not mine, but I don’t care- I just love that he is musical.  He plays the guitar, writes lyrics, and enjoys singing (AKA screaming) to metal music.  Over the years he has written songs/poems about me, and what girl doesn’t like that?  I grew up in a family who was completely all about music- my dad plays just about every instrument he can get his hands on (he owns and plays piano, guitar, harmonica, drums, several other percussion instruments including congas and timbales, and he’s not too shabby at bass), my brother Matt plays drums and guitar, and my other brother plays bass and guitar.  In other words, I’ve grown to love music and people who play music, and Ben fits right in with my family.  

 

7) Benjamin is fiercely loyal.  I think this is a trait that he gets from his family.  I’ve noticed that when they decide to support something, they stick by it.  I mean, they REALLY stick by it.  For example, when Ben started working for Verizon Wireless, that company all of the sudden walked on water- according to him they are by far the biggest and best cell phone company and no others can even compare.  He is loyal to his car mechanic, certain politicians, Fifth Third bank, and even Target who laid him off after he worked for them for 6 years.  Even though I don’t understand it sometimes, I LOVE it.  Why?  Because he is also fiercely loyal to ME and the things that are important to me including my family, my schooling, my dreams, etc.  I’ve noticed over the years that if someone hurts Ben he can get very angry, but he also forgives and forgets quite easily.  The rules all change, however, if someone hurts me or one of my family members.  If you hurt me or someone I love, you are pretty much on Ben’s bad side for a lifetime.

 

6) I love that Benny likes to learn.  He likes to read and think about new things.  He likes to be knowledgeable.  This is almost a secret pleasure for him.  He doesn’t usually delve too deep into debating or sharing his opinions when he is around other people, but I assure you- he DOES have an opinion and he DOES research/read up on a lot of things that interest him. 

 

5) One of my most fond memories is of our wedding day and how giddy and incredibly happy Ben was.  My dad told me that Ben was like a kid in a candy store.  When dad walked me down the aisle and Ben and I saw each other for the first time that day, he had the HUGEST smile on his face.  Remembering that lights me up like nothing else- I love that I have a husband who was simply that happy about marrying me and taking me home to be his wife forever.  

 

4) Benjamin spoils me.  Really spoils me.  Did you know that I have NEVER pumped gas?  Never in my life have I pumped gas.  Since I started driving, Ben has made sure my car always has had plenty of gas so that I’ve never had to stop.  Also, on the days he is off work he drives me everywhere I need to go.  He knows I hate driving, so it’s just something he does for me.  He even drives me to interviews and waits around until I am done.  When I was in school he would spend hours waiting around for me while I was in class just so that we could spend my breaks together.  On the days he was off work he went to nearly every dull and boring chapel service with me just to keep my company, even if I just sat there and did homework the whole time.  When I had to do homework at the computer lab, he would drive me and sit in the lab with me for hours upon hours at a time just so that I wasn’t alone.  It’s REALLY easy to take these things for granted when you get so used to them.  I hope I am forever thankful instead of expectant.

 

3) I just love everything that makes Ben Ben.  Sooo many things will FOREVER remind me of him: popcorn, Clint Eastwood, horror movies (specifically any Rob Zombie movie), his only pair of girl pants he wears every day, the Browns, Zao (and a lot of other metal music), English Bulldogs, skateboarding, stale peeps, his ratty t-shirt “visor”, and the list could go on and on.  A sappy but true story- even though my life IS Ben and I see him every single day, I still go through times when, if I see one of these things, I really start to miss him (if he is at work or out with his brothers or friends).  

 

2) If Ben hadn’t consistently and fully supported me since we got married, I would have no chance of fulfilling my dreams or reaching my career goals.  For three entire years he has taken on the complete financial responsibility of supporting both himself and I.  I’ve never paid rent, electric, insurance, car payments, cell phone bills, or any other bill.  I’ve never had to even deal with it.  Since we got married I’ve either been pregnant or in school.  I DO plan on launching my full-time career by Fall of ’09 if all goes as planned, and I’m sure Ben is super excited about that, but he has NEVER rushed me or discouraged me.  Ever.  He has NEVER complained or made me feel like I am not a contributing equal in our marriage.  He has ALWAYS been willing to sacrifice for me.

 

1) Ben is a family man, and I love love love that.  He loves his family- he really looks up to his dad, and he is super proud of his brother, Daniel, for going to school for the Marines.  He absolutely loves when his other brother, Josh, wants to spend time with him, and it’s obvious he has a soft spot in his heart for his mom.  I am also tremendously thankful that he loves my family, too.  He is great friends with my brothers, he really respects and enjoys my dad, and he appreciates my mom.  He is also so excited to be a daddy.  He asks me often if I can please take Adry out of my belly so that he can play with him, and he tells me all the time that he can’t wait until the baby is here.  Ben puts family first in his life.  I love that about him- I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I Love You, Benny!