It is so hard to believe that Ben turns 30, today! It's even harder to believe that when we met we were all of 19 & 23! And here we are...almost 7 years later,
married with 2 beautiful girls. He has so many admirable qualities. In celebration of this milestone, I have decided to compile a list.
Here it is...
30 Reasons Why I Love,
Benjamin Hill1. One of Ben's first major selling points was that
he is so easy to talk to. Our entire relationship would not have worked otherwise. We met over the phone and our first conversation lasted for over an hour...and neither of us were "phone people." Serious!
2. I have always loved Ben's
confidence. When we eventually met in person
(in the parking lot of his apartment complex), he walked with a strong sense of purpose and made eye contact with me right away. There was absolutely no hesitation or nervousness...and I adored him for it!
3. Ben has always been
chivalrous. I almost never have to open a door or pull out a chair. When we were dating he did 100% of the pursuing, and always paid for everything. Always.
4. I love how
sentimental he is! He is the only guy I've ever dated that picked out "our song." The songs he chose (completely on his own) were
Where Are You Going--Dave Mathews Band &
I Wish You Were Here--Incubus. But really, he is sentimental over a lot of little things, and it has always meant a lot to me.
5. I also love how
family oriented he is. When we were dating, he would drop everything to help his siblings. He was always concerned about his three little sisters. I knew that when he had a family of his own, he would be an involved husband & father.
6. Ben is
surprisingly sweet. He has a way of doing things for me when I least expect it, and when I need it most. So many examples of this instantly come to mind.
(Maybe I'll post about them all later...or not :)) I just love that he is full of little surprises that remind me how much he cares.
7. He is such a
good daddy! He was absolutely meant to be a daddy of little girls. Jocee and Sophie have him wrapped around their little fingers. He is always mindful of them.
8. He is always looking for ways to spend time with the girls. Most recently, he has been trying to teach Jocee how to fly fish. Every morning she asks Ben,
"Daddy and Jocee go fishing??!"
9. Ben is an
amazing friend. He will help his friends in any way that he can (I.E. car trouble, moving, etc...). Most of all:
He is my best friend!10. I have always loved how Ben is
not judgmental or critical of others. There have been times when I thought that he should be. But instead, he tries to be understanding and see the best in people.
11. I can honestly say that he
never gossips. Never. He simply doesn't care to discuss other people's shortcomings or unfortunate situations.
12. Ben is an
amazing pilot! Flying planes is not just something that he does for a living, it's something that he excels at. He definitely has found his niche. I am so happy that he gets to do something that he is so passionate about, as a means of supporting our family.
13. When it comes to
politics, we are on the same page. Ben has said,
"I am not a Democrat. I am not a Republican. I am an American, and I want my country back." --I could not agree more!
14. Ben is
articulate. He has no problem expressing himself, and always seems to know the best way to say things.
15. Ben is
thrifty. Somehow he is always able to find what he wants at a third of the normal price. I never have to worry too much when he buys a new toy, or takes on a new hobby, because I know that he shopped around for months before he made a decision.
16. Ben is a total
guy's guy! Everything that he enjoys is stereotypically masculine, and I love it!
17. Ben is extremely
down-to-earth. He doesn't think that he is better than anyone. He never has to have the state-of-the-art, best of anything. He's not concerned with appearances.
18. He makes me feel safe.
19. Ben is
innovative. If he can't find something that he wants, he'll find a way to make it himself. There have been times when he'll think of something and just create it. Sometimes I wonder if something he has invented will get patented.
20. Ben likes to
be prepared. He thought of food storage and 72-hour kits first. He continually looks for ways to keep us ready for anything.
21. He is
smart, in every sense of the word.
22. Ben has a very
hands-on personality. He learns best when he can physically do something. He enjoys anything that allows him to use his hands.
23. Ben is a
people person. Almost everyone likes him. He has a way of putting people at ease.
24. Ben is a
chance-taker. While this is something that often drives me crazy, I do admire his ability to access risk and make decisions quickly. If he makes mistakes, they are simply lessons learned for next time.
25. Ben is always looking for ways to improve himself. His latest effort has been giving up caffeine,
completely. This is huge! I've always though Dr. Pepper
(among other beverages) would just be something that he always drinks. For now, he has kicked the habit! Hopefully the health benefits will be enough for him to continue the trend.
