This is what Paul got for Father’s Day. Well, this and a brand new minivan. (I know, I know, a mini van. How soccer Mom can you get? But we have to have it or we can’t take Eden’s friends anywhere this summer [a couple of them are latch keying it.] As we were buying it, they pulled up my dream car – an orange Honda element – and sold it to some 19-year-old kid. Oh the injustice!) Paul loves this van. Absolutely loves it. It’s expensive and silver and shiny – sort of like a computer, maybe that’s the appeal. It has leather, a sound system, and air conditioning that works. The doors open automatically with a click of a button on our key chain. It’s actually kind of boss.

I was recently invited to write an article for Mutuality magazine. It’s the journal for the Christians for Biblical Equality. My friends Jen and Kelly were invited to write too, so we conference called each other to compare notes. Our general topic was “what is it like to be a woman in the emerging church.” Jen suggested that I write about Paul and I and our marriage, and how it take an egalitarian marriage to allow me to be a pastor. My first thought was, “If I write about that and list it all out, Paul will realize that he’s getting the short end of this deal!” Paul does the laundry. Paul does the dishes most nights after dinner. Paul stays home with the kids and uses up his vacation days so I can go to conferences. (While I’m gone he cleans the whole house.) Paul cleans up after our weekly ThPM dinner and skips part of our group conversation so he can put our kids to bed. Paul serves on the board of directors. Paul researches stuff for me on line and tells me which Christianity Today articles I must read (even though I hate them.) Paul puts up with my very slow healing process in regards to body image. Paul listens to me process all the minutia of what it means to be a Cultivator. Paul bails me out when I’m ready to go ballistic on the kids. Paul edits my writing. Paul commutes over an hour each way by bus. In addition to all this he does all the typical “husband” stuff…the trash, the car, the mowing of the lawn…even the cat box.

Paul says I am “beautiful, my sweet sweet song.”

Pretty stunning, isn’t it?

I guess he deserves that mini van after all.

P.S. This is Paul’s favorite picture….but I like this one better. Love all sides of you honey!