I Love Whit!

So, we already know how great Whitney is. She got a full-time teaching gig at a public school right out of grad school. It was, I think, her 5th application and 3rd interview. That’s practically unheard of. Most qualified aspiring teachers have completed hundreds of applications and had dozens of interviews, all over the state or nation. Whit scored a gig right away, right around the corner from home. She’s a stud.

Here we are, now. At the end of her first year. Whit has, as expected, hit it out of the park. I’m not surprised — but I’m damn proud.

She’s 1 of 2 science teachers. She’s been asked to take her qualifying exams to teach chemistry. She’s been asked to be a lead for the pedagogical program that the school uses. She’s been asked to go all over the country for conferences. She’s been asked to sit in on interviews for new teachers.

She’s the top of the top. Her first year.

Like I said, I’m not at all surprised. Who, who knows Whitney, would be? But I can’t say how proud I am and how it warms my heart to see her so happy and content in her career. It was a special treat to go through her first yearbook with her.

That’s my baby. In her honor, I’m firing up the theme from the first Karate Kid.

So, this might sound a little sad or, I dunno, less than perfectly loving. But I hope it’s not read that way, because it’s only like that on the very surface. Beneath that is the very depth of love — the good stuff. The REALLY good stuff.

So, sometimes Whit and I — we don’t like each other very much. I’m a slob, I disrespect her generosity by not putting away the laundry that she’s done for me. I leave dishes and sometimes socks out. I can be emotionally inattentive. And Whit has her bothersome qualities and habits, too.

So — that’s the bad part.

The good part? As much as we want to just take a face punch at one another sometimes, there’s no one I’d rather be with. There’s no one I trust more and no better partner I could imagine for myself. As angry as we might be with one another at any moment, I have no doubt that she’s the one I want to go through life with.

And that’s the good stuff. My heart is my wife’s no matter what. We’ve been married, now, for two years (and a few days), and I can’t wait to see what we’re like after another decade and another still.

Though sometimes my mind gets in the way, my heart always loves Whit. Dot com.

We’re both awfully tired this week. We spent Sunday doing chores and never seemed to catch up on any sleep. So we’re running on empty.

Whit has had long days at school, meetings, and so on. Then she comes home to a couple of energetic dogs who won’t let her get a wink.

I guess we’re getting a taste of “real life.” We’re learning how to deal with it, it’s getting better.

I’m so glad and thankful I have such a strong, hard-working teammate in life.

…no matter what.

Finally, after five years, Whit and I were able to bring Winston home. Well, he can’t just be alone, can he? Surely not! So, today, we went through the heartbreaking process of adopting a new little puppy. Her name is Libby and she’s white. That’s about all we can tell so far. She is sweet as can be, curious, calm, playful, gregarious, and playful.

It feels awfully nice to be starting our little family here. We have a new place, new responsibilities, new bills, a new budget, new family, and new things to look forward to. Can’t wait to see them when they arrive.

So Whit took me to her school’s first Christmas Party. It was a really low-key event — ten or twelve of her colleagues at one of their homes.

I was so proud to see whit with her peers. They’re a great group, and Whit, no surprise, fits right in. A few of her co-teachers even made a point to tell me how great they think Whit is, how well she’s doing, and how much the kids love her.

Whitney has worked harder for longer than just about anybody I know and now she’s seeing the reward of her hard work. She LOVES what she does and won’t quit saying so. What could make a husband happier?

What could be better? Be ye all jealous.

So Whit’s wiener dog, Winston, lives among a dog family. The other three have torn all the grass up in their back yard. As a result, Winston has no grass to sleep on. And Whit does NOT like that.

I love her childlike heart and soul, especially for the animals. She loves them without question and treats them like people, and it’s wonderful. 🙂

So. Tonight is Whit’s first back to school event EVER! She’s going to get to meet her students’ parents and show them what they’re up to in class.

I’m so proud of her I love seeing her experience all of these career firsts!