Last year during the July 4th weekend, our family went with Carl’s parents up to see Glacier park in Montana. It was truly beautiful, but I ended up getting really sick. I mean really sick. You can read all the details of the sickness here. I had two doctors mention the word meningitis. I am still not sure if that was what was wrong. My family physician told me I could either go to the hospital to get a spinal tap to determine if it was spinal meningitis, or I could take an antibiotic used for meningitis. I chose the antibiotic, and it worked. My momma didn’t raise a fool!
This weekend, I reminisced about last year’s trip which was such a special time with Carl’s parents and had a tug on my heart since Larry is no longer with us. I tried to be a trooper during the trip, but it was hard as I started running a pretty high fever. Carl and I celebrated 21 years of marriage on that trip.
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| Glacier Park Pic #1 |
This weekend, Carl and I celebrated 22 years together and as I reminisced about the trip last year, I couldn’t help but remember the most romantic thing Carl has ever done for me. It happened on our Glacier trip when I was so sick. It might seem strange to you, but it was truly the most romantic thing my husband has ever done.
We were staying in a hotel room. Carl and I were in a king sized bed. I had begun to feel I was running a fever. That night, I woke up in the middle of the night wet with sweat. I do not mean slightly damp! The bed was wet, the sheets were wet, the pillow was wet, and my pajamas were soaked. There was no way I could go back to sleep in the wetness.
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| Glacier Park Pic #2 |
I got up to go to the bathroom to change into some new pajamas. I was so cold and shaking so hard my teeth were chattering. I could hardly even take my clothes off or put new ones on. My body was shaking so badly. When I got into the bed, there was no way I could lay in the wet outline which outlined my side of the bed so I scooted to the middle. I was shaking so hard. My teeth were chattering. I could feel the heat coming off my body, but I was so cold.
I wanted to wake Carl up to snuggle with me. I wanted his body warmth, but I didn’t want to put him at risk of getting sick too. Several minutes passed. Every muscle in my body was tense now from the shivering. I couldn’t stand it anymore. I reached out and shook him. “Carl,” I asked, “will you hold me? I am so cold.” In a split-second and with no hesitancy, he reached out for me instantly and pulled me to him so strongly and so protectively. He pulled me tightly to him and wrapped his arms around me. Slowly, my teeth stopped chattering and then slowly I stopped shivering. I was able to eventually fall asleep.
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| Glacier Park #3 |
After so many years of marriage, why was this the most romantic thing he had ever done for me? The moment which tugs at my heart strings the most? He tried to push and hold his breath with every contraction as I pushed our kiddos out while I was in labor. He has booked nights at a cabin. He has done laundry, changed dirty diapers, and made me homemade cards. Anyone can send someone flowers, fill up a bath with rose petals, and buy a dinner for the one they love. All of those things are nice, but what my husband did for me was a true sign of what he felt in his heart for me. I was burning up with fever. My hair was matted with sweat, and I probably was not smelling so fresh. He knew I was sick. He risked himself and his health. He wanted to fill my needs, and he was willing to do anything for me with absolutely no hesitation. In that moment, I knew and felt he loved me unconditionally. He loved the sweaty, stinky, fevered, matted hair me, and he would do anything for me without hesitation. No second guessing. No matter what. I truly have been blessed with a keeper!