Big Expert, Spiders, and Cheers Reruns

Big Expert and I began our love story years ago at the trash dumpster behind our apartments. I had just moved in and was taking a big load of trash outside from unpacking. Big Expert arrived home from work and parked in the space next to the dumpster. We only exchanged a few words, but I always felt we had nowhere to go but up from our "trashy" beginning.

A few days later, I was outside sweeping my stairs and Big Expert came walking by. I commented that there were a lot of spiders in my apartment. This is when I got my first taste of Big Expert's expertise. He told me every possible fact and statistic about spiders that I could possibly hope to learn. I said,  "You're full of information" and then my phone rang and I went inside to answer it. Big Expert says he waited a few minutes to see if I would come back outside. And that was the beginning of true love!

I had no idea that the spiders would be a foreshadow to our future life together here in the Sonoran Desert. We share our home with Black Widows, Desert Browns, Wolf Spiders, Tarantulas, and Scorpions to name a few.  It is a constant battle to keep our home spider free. In fact, I had two giant wolf spiders in the house yesterday. One went on a ride down the toilet and I believe our beagle ate the other one!

Big expert is full of information and he is also full of energy. He is a morning person and bounds out of bed at full speed. He is usually up early and into work early.  At one time, his nickname at work was "the flea" because he hopped all around. He's a designer in the mechanical engineering department and most of those folks are very detail oriented. Lucky for me, I can use all the organizational influences I can get! 

He also gets home by 4:30 every afternoon which gives us a lot of family time. He can be involved with the kids sports and activities which I really appreciate. His energy also serves me because he is energetic about doing chores like dishes, cleaning the bathrooms, vacuuming, laundry, and chasing down spiders. He does them speedily and with zest.         

Big Expert's great love is photography. He is an amazing artist. He has documented every family event, milestone and many hilarious moments along the way. He has started his own business doing weddings and portraits Cockrell Photography. He is also working on his nature photography and building a portfolio of fine art photos.

Big Expert has been compared to Cliff Clavin from the 80's T.V. show Cheers. Happily, for me things tend to work out a little better for Big Expert than for Cliff. Like Cliff, Big Expert is a talker.  He comes by that trait naturally from his dear mother. Here is a little Cliff Claven from Cheers:  

Cliff Clavin or not, I am truly blessed to have such a loving, giving and generous husband. I am thankful every day. I love you Big Expert!

"Love is the thing that enables a woman to sing while she mops up the floor after her husband has walked across it in his barn boots."

-Hoosier Farmer Quote

Today is WFMW  at Rocks in my  Dryer and what works for me is having a husband that is a fabulous provider, dedicated to our family, and willing to be flexible and laugh with me during these crazy times of raising four children seven and under.  

 

Mama-Om is posting about gratitude today.  Click button to read more.