So, my wonderful husband presented me with a challenge last night. About a year ago, I wrote about struggling to believe that I was good enough in general. It’s still a struggle now. I’m always stressing about thinking that I have to “make” him be affectionate, cuddle, or spend time with me. I’m tired of it. And he is tired of me always acting as if he doesn’t want to do those things. He says he would regardless of what I did and it would be nice to have the opportunity to show me. And so the challenge is born.

For the next 30 days – January 24 to February 24 – I will NOT say or do anything to try to “make” him be with me or give me his attention. I won’t whine about missing him, I won’t text him first, I won’t ask constantly when we’re going to “be together”, I won’t change my behavior regardless of the amount of attention he’s giving me, I won’t ask if we can talk about why we haven’t spent time together if it’s only been a day or two (crazy, right?!). None of those things! I won’t do it at all for the next thirty days!!

It’ll be hard to keep my mouth shut! I don’t know if I can do it! But it’ll sure be refreshing to see the end results. Will we have as much time together as we do now? More? Less? Will we be closer? Further apart? The same? Will I feel sexier & more desired? Or the opposite? How will my husband react? Will he be happier? Will he enjoy being “in charge” of our time and activities, so to speak? I don’t know but I’m going to find out!

I am also starting another “challenge” of sorts, thanks to my dear friend Janet for introducing me to the idea! I’ve decided to join up the Happy Wives Club (which is great, by the way!) and embark on a new venture. Here is some more info….

What if, just for one day, writers and bloggers from all over the web joined in creating a list detailing all the reasons they love, adore and cherish their husbands?  And then (maybe, just maybe) in the days, weeks, and months ahead, continued adding to their list as a reminder to their readers (and themselves) that marriage is one of the most beautiful gifts in the world.

And what if, from this group of bloggers, women all over the world began reminding themselves daily of the gift bestowed upon them in this lifetime union, and created their own lists?  Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Post-it notes left all over houses with this very simple title, Why I Love My Husband.  I can already feel the love filling the air!

Pretty great idea, right? I’m excited to take part each week. I could probably rattle off a million reasons why I love Tom but I’m going to try to limit myself to five each week. Without further ado, Why I Love My Husband (the never-ending list):

1) He is mine, all mine, and ONLY mine. I love that we can both say that we’ve only ever been with each other. What a blessing in the world today!

2) He thinks I’m even more beautiful today than the day he married me on March 23, 1991.

3) He worked so hard while we were raising our daughter in order to give me the opportunity to be a stay at home wife and mom.

4) He’s so strong. Both physically, which is awesome, but also emotionally. He is my rock and I love that!

5) He loves me so very, very much.