After witnessing my husband's actions at the monthly assembly at the girls' school this morning, I have been moved to post a special entry in honor of my husband and some of his traits that are not always visible to the average person or on a daily basis. He has some very obvious special traits that anybody can see on any given day. He has BEAUTIFUL icy blue eyes, a hint of a Southern drawl compliments of living in Missouri for 15+ years, and a deep, rumbling voice that hints at his singing talents. These are all things that contributed to us becoming husband and wife. He is a very large man, and sometimes that leads people to believe that he's just a rough, tough, country-dumb Southern boy. But, I'd like to share an experience to set the record straight.
My husband was in the Army just after High School, so he has always been a very patriotic individual. He tends to get a tear in his eye any time we hear the National Anthem, or the Pledge of Allegiance, etc. I have learned to expect this, and always attempt to make him feel better when he complains about "springing a leak" in public. But neither of us knew what was going to take place at today's assembly, or I probably would not have gotten him to attend. Instead of the customary Pledge of Allegiance to the flag hung on the gym wall, the high school Citizenship class walked a folded flag into the gym, unfolded it while students were educating us on what the stripes, stars, colors, and layout of the flag represent. They gave us the "rules of respect" for a flag. They called 4 male students from the crowd and told them they had been "drafted". They gave them 24 hours to pack up, say goodbye, and head off to unknown places, for unknown amounts of time, to fight a war they may or may not know anything about. This was to represent how the draft used to work, and a reminder that it could be brought back into use in present day. Since my nephew is home on leave from the Air Force, he was on the gym floor in his Dress Blues saluting the flag while the students gave their presentation. Then, we all said the Pledge of Allegiance and watched as the students very meticulously and carefully folded the flag back up and walked it out of the gym. As I turned to check on my husband, I found him sobbing, tears running down his face, and his unflinching glaze following the flag that he loves so much. We just got sat down and somewhat composed when the Superintendent informed us that the parents of a 6th grade student who passed away unexpectedly last school year had donated his beloved saxaphone to the music program at UHS. They also had an individual who is an awesome sax player play Amazing Grace as a tribute to Austin Carter and his love for the saxaphone. By the time this was over, my husband no longer needed to worry about the tears rolling down his cheek because he was by NO MEANS alone. I don't believe there was a dry eye in the crowd, parents OR students.
I am so proud of my husband for not trying to hide his love for his Country and his Freedom to save his "macho" appearance. I'm grateful that I was lucky enough to find a man who is just as proud of being an American as I am. He makes me want to be more comfortable saying thank you to a total stranger on the street who is a Veteran. He makes me want to be more aware of flags as I rush through my busy days. He makes me want to do more to teach my children respect for the flag so they will grow up to love these things as much as we do.
Before this post is done, I want to bring attention to a few other traits in my husbands possession that make him the unique individual I love so much:
#1--After rotator-cuff surgery the beginning of this year, Steve still has not been released to go back to work. Up until June this year, I was working 40 plus hours a week and he became "Mr. Mom". It was so nice to come home from work (most days) and find him preparing dinner, helping the girls with their homework, sending them to the shower if it was their night, etc. I learned that it didn't matter if it was a gourmet meal, he was trying. I learned it didn't matter if the laundry was folded and put away, it was clean. If he did put the laundry away, it was OK if he put dish clothes on the wash cloth shelf in the bathroom. I learned that it didn't matter if he didn't clean the sink out after he washed the dishes, at least they were washed. You learn real quick to accept what is done and not focus on what wasn't done correctly.
#2--I love that my husband put himself in physical misery one night in an attempt to take a load off me. Keanna had been vomiting all day, and after going to bed, I had been up with her no less than 4 times by 2:30 in the morning. This child can not make it to the bathroom when she vomits, so every time I dozed off only to be woke up by the sounds of her wretching, it meant stripping the bed, stripping her, bathing her, changing the bed while she was in the bath, and putting her back to sleep. Obviously, by 2:30, I was DRAINED. So, the next time we both woke up to the sounds of her calling me because she was sick, my husband says "Honey, you stay in bed, you're exhausted. I'll take care of her this time!" I listen as he runs down the hall way and grabs the ever-present "barf bowl" from the floor beside her bed and talk to her calmly saying "It's ok sis, I'm here to help you". The next thing I hear is Steve hollering for me to come quick, the sound of footsteps sprinting toward the bathroom, and then I hear what EVERY mother fears--the sound of TWO people emptying their stomachs. Thankfully, he had gotten the bowl under Keanna and he made it to the bathroom, but from that day forward we just look at each other when one of the girls has the flu. It's a look that says so much, yet no words are exchanged. He knows his place is on the couch or in bed, waiting to console me after I have went to clean up a mess. I'd rather be up 20 times in one night, cleaning up after ONE person than to stay in bed only to have 2 messes to clean up. Now does this mean he's a wimp? NO!!!! If you were in an accident and your arm gets chopped off, or you impale yourself on a fence, or you run a 2-inch staple through your thumb into a 2x4 while building trusses (HMM..WONDER HOW I CAME UP WITH THAT AS AN EXAMPLE?!?!?!), he's the man you want by your side. You can bleed on him, scream at him, squeeze his hand when the pain is too much to handle and he's good.
#3--When he was recuperating from his surgery, he couldn't do a whole lot of anything with his left arm. His ability to do the most basic of tasks was taken from him and it really frustrated him. But, he knew that he couldn't just sit idle all day long without going completely bonkers. So, he offered child care services to all our friends. He watched a friends son & daughter when dad went off to National Guard Duty and mom worked graveyards. He watched a friend's 2-year old daughter while they went hunting to try and fill their freezer with meat for a large family. He watched a single mom's daughter so she could attempt to find work. In fact, he playfully dubbed our house "Fat Boy Daycare". I am so proud of him for finding a way to keep himself occupied while helping friends who needed help but couldn't afford traditional day care.
#4--This man decorated our wedding cake. He made me a beautiful sunflower cake for my birthday last year. He made an adorable spider cake for the girls' Cake Walk at school the first year we were married. He has made some really cute cupcakes for multiple holiday parties for both girls' classrooms. Not a lot of people know he has this talent, but he does an AWESOME job. Like most men, he doesn't want to be toooooo comfortable with something that is most often women's territory, so he has this awesome cake decorator from Pampered Chef that he has dubbed the "caulking gun" because it works in much the same way.
If you aren't bored stiff or snoring at this point, then allow me to make a formal introduction: This is my wonderful husband of 2 years 4 months and 11 days and a future full of more wonderful days:
Mr. Steve Rickman.
You might find this post lengthy, boring, even "bragging", but I just felt like a THANK YOU was in order for a wonderful guy who possesses so many great traits that not everybody sees. He deserves some recognition for going above and beyond to help others, for trying to make the best of the situation whatever it may be, and for truly loving his country and isn't afraid for that love to show even when it comes in the form of tears. 
Our sign was pretty soggy, our clothes were really soggy, but our spirits, our pride, and our determination weren't phased by the pouring rain. It doesn't appear those IN the parade were too bothered, either. Just want to say THANK YOU for all who have, or are currently, fighting and defending our freedom. 
