Following the leader

Todd and I have been married over 17 years now. 17 years!  Wow. I don't feel that old.

 There were a lot of things I didn't know when we got married. Let's just say I was no Betty Crocker, nor was I Susie Homemaker. One thing that I had managed pretty well was finances. I could keep a checkbook balanced and have always been good with numbers. When we got married we both naturally assumed I would take care of the bills. It wasn't something Todd really enjoyed doing and I was only working p/t anyway.....why not?

So I have done the bills for the last 17 years. I have set up budgets and followed them to the penny. I have set up budgets and not followed them at all. I have read Dave Ramsey's books and listened to his radio show. We have great credit and our lights have never been shut off, so I think I've done a decent job, but something has been tugging at my heart lately. Thankfully Todd has always been blessed with a great job that supported us well. We have never really had to skimp and save, but there have been times where a decision needed made. Sometimes I would ask Todd and other times I wouldn't bother him with it. That's just how it's always been.

Todd and I enjoy discussing things together. Priorities. Goals. What do we wish for our children? That sort of thing. I am so thankful for a husband that enjoys talking with me! So many times over the years Todd has relied on my interpretation of our financial situation to make a decision. Now there's nothing at all wrong with that. He knows that I am perfectly capable of adding 2+2. It's about more than the numbers and the math though.

He and I look at things so differently. We really do compliment each other in that way. He is a big picture type of guy. I am a details type of gal. I don't know why I never thought of it before, but how can he be expected to lead our family when he doesn't have the whole picture?  

I had been thinking about this for months and was ready to ask Todd if he would take over the bills. I had this beautiful scene in my mind.....I would explain to him all that I have been feeling and he would completely understand, agree with me and we would skip off into the sunset......Wrong!

I'm a big dope and I flew off the handle about some small detail and said, "Fine! You do it.". Not one of my finer moments.  A while later I was able to articulate all that I had been thinking these past several months and he saw my reasoning. Todd officially took over this week. I have to admit that I feel like a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders.Not from the work of doing a task, but from all the thoughts and worry that I had over them.

Just yesterday he took something that I was unable to make a decision about and simply said, "This is how it is." and it was done. That's it. Finished.

Sweet relief!  It is so much easier following the leader.

Have a blessed day! ~Tammy

17 years ago today . . . . .

I married my best friend.

Yes he annoys me at times. Heck, I annoy him at times. But he's mine and I'm his. Neither one of us is perfect, but that's fine by us.