Things I like about Jen.

This was another blog topic fed to me by my dear one.

Here are 31 things I like about Jen.  Arbitrary number, of course.

1. She is a fantastic writer.  She wrote me emails, missionary letters, AIM chats, lunch love notes and the like throughout our courtship which were well-thought-out and lovely to read.
2. She is thoughtful.  She sends people cookies, black beans, and cake mixes in the mail when their local grocery options are limited.  
3. She is an extraordinary cook.  She has a great command of a whisk and other kitchen paraphenalia, and can innovate upon a recipe to make it taste better.
4. She is compassionate.  Early in our marriage she brought up the idea of "giving a gift to Jesus" which really entailed giving financially for the benefit of the poor and needy.  I was touched.
5. She's a cautious driver.  Jen keeps the rules of the road and gives plenty of space to the hooligans who drive around here.  She even coaches to help this hooligan drive more courteously.
6. She is punctual.  When I have a place to be with Jen, we are never late.  It's quite nice to be early to meetings/classes/appointments, because then we get a good seat and can be calm.
7. She's got the softest skin.  This one is a little harder to observe if you're not nearby.  She passed on the soft skin gene to Blake also, who is kissably soft.
8. She has a sense of fashion.  Not only does that keep her snappily dressed, but it helps me up my game.  I receive compliments on days I wear clothing Jen picked out or purchased.
9. She's very intelligent.  She keeps up with current events among our nation and the nations of the world.  She knows the opinions of people I've never heard of, and knows why countries are hurting.
10. She's a cartophile.  Have you been to our house to see the Map of the World Showercurtain?  It's yet one more reason to take a long, warm shower when you come to New Engla nd.
11. Fall is her favorite season. I had never thought through my reasons to have a favorite season, because they all have something to offer.  But to a Mainer, the world is just crisper and more beautiful in fall.
12. Her hair.  Oh, her hair.  Have you seen it recently?  It shines, has a little curl, and she has discovered how to be the "hair whisperer" to make it into the most beautiful array of locks.
13. She is thrifty.  She can take $5 and turn it into something wonderful, through yard sales, thrifting, deal-hunting, or innovating with items on hand.  She's also willing to leave the money in the bank.
14. She is crafty.  And who doesn't like a craft?  She's handy with a glue gun, sewing machine, vinyl cutter, photo editing software, cross-stitch, and crochet hook.  Yeah, all of the above.
15. She likes to hand-stitch the bindings on her quilts.  Yeah, I didn't know what a binding was a few years ago.  But Jen has a knack for it, and makes some beautiful fabric creations.
16. She's got the cutest wrinkly-nose smile.  She used to do it alot more, but I guess I teased it away.  My comments weren't supposed to scare it into submission, but I don't see those wrinkles much anymore.
17. She's got compassion for children.  She doesn't even have to know them, and her heart swells up with desires for their well-being.  It grieves her soul when help is beyond her control.
18. She takes immaculate notes.  She was a research office secretary, then a Department secretary at BYU's business school, so she has a talent for connecting her ears to her hands to paper.
19. She can type like a hundred words per minute, or something obscenely fast, at least.  And she only uses 6 fingers, folks!  It's amazing.  I admire that she could use that skill to pump out college papers.
20. She wants me to succeed.  She urged me into my educational plan, she helps prep me for business meetings, she lets me try out new handyman projects to see if they work.
21. She has a beautiful alto singing voice.  We used to sing in the choir together, and it was lots of fun to be able to pick her voice out among the other altos.  I guess that comes of years of listening to her.
22. She can tickle the ivories, too!  It's one of my favorite things to brag about on Jen's behalf, and perhaps one of the things that embarrasses Jen the most when I tell them.  She really is talented.
23. She's humble about her skill-set.  Though, she really could give herself more credit for being awesome.  She is a woman so well-versed that she doesn't need to be shy about it, after all.
24. She gave me children.  That is to say, she and I are raising 2.5 sons together, and I love that she has dedicated her professional life to rearing them in love and righteousness.  I love that she loves them.
25. She shops with a grocery list.  This is no ordinary grocery list either.  It's based upon a weekly menu.  And charted out according the store floor-plan.  And has target prices for the produce aisle.
26. She can drive a stick-shift.  We honeymooned driving a Plymouth Sundance.  Then our first summer together, we borrowed the Justy.  Then we bought the Outback, the car of my dreams.
27. She wants me to have a garage.  To house my workshop.  And my canoe.  Which garage would naturally be attached to a house in a suburb or rural area.  In which we'll raise our posse of children.
28. She prioritizes clean sheets.  This means that I get that crisp fresh feeling on a regular basis and sleep well at night with the tight weave tickling my toes.
29. She enjoys charts.  Including my geeky charts about our family energy consumption, budget, or height.  She offers to help me create charts to help me organize for my calling at church, etc.
30. She appreciates antiques.  I see much beauty in things as they were, and really enjoy seeing things persist across generations.  Hand-me-down vintage clothing, old furniture, tools, appliances.  Neat!
31. She knows I love her.  The reason I like it is because knowing that she knows makes it so much easier to step aside from disagreements and refocus on the big picture sometimes.