Keri SoVery…

What do you see when you see this picture?  

When I look at this picture, I see a few things:  My mouth is wide open.  My eyes are shut.  I think that’s some cake pop in my mouth actually.  I can totally see what I refer to as my “fat face.”  At first, I hated this picture.  I mean really, if that was you with cake pop in your wide open mouth, would you love it?

My husband on the other hand, counts this as one of his favorites from our wedding.  Of course he does, look at him with his beautiful smile, looking good in his tux!

He also has another terrible looking picture of me that he absolutely loves.  I was visiting my family one day while he was traveling. When I visit my family I almost always take silly selfies with my sweet nieces and nephew.  One in particular who is a middle child like me; is in fact my silly selfie buddy.  We do silly faces. We do mad faces. We do surprise faces. We do upside down faces. I mean, we try to get them all in.  We wouldn’t want to leave any of the expressions out, you know. This particular day I’m pretty sure I hadn’t been out of bed for too very long before we started our silly selfies for the day.  That, or I was just being lazy.  As a way to say “Good Morning” I sent one to my guy.  (He was not yet my husband then)

Not long after he got back I noticed he had done away with the picture he once had of me as his phone’s wallpaper.  It was one where my make up was on point, I was dressed up for an event, my eyebrows and hair were done.  The lighting was good.  It was a picture I was really ok with other people seeing.   He had replaced that gorgeous picture with this hideous morning picture of me!!

HIDEOUS! You hear me?

There I was, first thing you saw any time his phone would ring or a notification would come in.  I had no makeup on.  Pretty sure my hair wasn’t brushed. I certainly hadn’t drawn my eyebrows on yet.  I didn’t even have a bra on, y’all!!!! My teeth probably weren’t even brushed yet.  On top of that, I’m making a really ugly silly face.  I was like, “What!?!?!”  “What are people going to think of your woman when they see that picture?”  He said, “But I like it.” and smiled.  It’s been there ever since.

 

A few nights ago we were walking back home after an event.   It is clear to anyone that knows us that he is more of an introvert and I am more of an extrovert.  The event was tons of fun to me.  I was worried he hadn’t enjoyed the loud crowded outing with people we barely know.  I could tell he was tired.  He had worked all day, barely gotten home in time to get ready, and then we had rushed out the door.  So, I was really hoping he had enjoyed it.  He said that he really did enjoy the event.  Then he said to me, “I feel your joy and it gives me joy.”  Now, I’m willing to bet that my sweet husband doesn’t even remember saying that to me.  It was late, we were tired and somewhere along the walk home, I had to pee next to a tree because there was no way I was going to make it home in time. He probably forgot pretty quickly.   I’m certain he has no clue how much I have thought about that since he said it.  But it really touched me.

First of all, it’s just so sweet.  Secondly, it makes him liking my hideous pictures make so much sense to me.  Yes, I see all my flaws when I look at both of these pictures, but he sees joy and happiness.  It just makes so much sense now.  He sees the very characteristics he loves about me and my crazy self shining through.

Do you ever wish that your loved ones that you truly admire could see themselves in your eyes?  I think I got a little tiny glimpse.

 

 

Also, Matthew Wonderly did an awesome job of capturing the love, joy, and happiness in that picture.  I’m so thankful to have it.

 

#KeriSoVery #SoVeryJoyful