Sometimes, even after 36 years of marriage, I forget that my husband and I express love differently. I show it verbally. Rick creates things with his hands.
In February, our daughter Katie married and became a stepmom to a beautiful little girl named Rilynn who turned four this month. In April, Rick offered to build her a dollhouse for her birthday.
Katie and Rilynn picked this one from Hobby Lobby’s website.
After putting it together, Rick stained the shingles and glued them in place one a time.
He painted the toothpick-sized banisters the same way–one by one.
“Can’t you dump just everything into a bucket and paint it all at once?” I said, late one night.
“Nope.”
“Aren’t you tired?”
“Nope. I like doing this.”
For days he deliberated about what color to paint the steps. Finally, he decided on pink and purple and made another trip to Home Depot for an itty-bitty can of pink paint.
He even installed hardwoods.
I couldn’t identify with his steady determination, but I was fascinated.
This past Saturday, we had a small birthday party for Rilynn.
She loves Frozen and anything princess related.
And purple. 
Saturday morning, Rick added the finishing touches and covered the dollhouse with a sheet.
Later, after cake and ice cream,
Long drum roll ..……………
He slowly unveiled his gift.
Ta-da!
Rilynn twirled around and clapped her hands. Bending close to miniature front porch, she carefully touched the window panes.
“Let her have fun with it,” Rick said. “If she breaks anything, I’ll fix it.”
Smiling, she ran her finger along the railing.
(Her daddy and my mom are on the left.)
Then I had quite a moment.
Rilynn walked her little fingers up the steps and started setting up her new home.
Just like me.
Almost 12 years ago, Rick led me up the stairs of the log house that he’d built for us. Pausing on the top step, he said, “Open your eyes.”
He made me a writing loft.
With his own hands.
Thank You, Father. What love!
“Your hands have made me and fashioned me” Psalm 119:73 ESV.
How do you express love?
(For more about Katie’s story, click here.)
Love,
Julie
