I've Been Tagged...

By Jennifer, to tell about my sweet husband.

1. Who is your man? Ryan Anton Bishop. He's a godly man who loves me as Christ loves the church. Ryan daily seeks to become more like our Lord and Savior. I am so incredibly blessed to have this man as my husband--a man who fears God, who loves me so sacrificially and unconditionally and who, I know, will keep me laughing all the days of my life.

2. How long have you been together? We met in March 1998 (we both worked at the Black-Eyed Pea Market Grill in Arlington, Texas) and started dating that July.

3. How long did you date? This sounds like an easy question, but the answer isn't quite as simple. Ryan and I actually dated for a couple months (starting July 1998) and then broke up for about a year. We went to college in different cities, so for that next year, we didn't see each other much. Let's stop here for a second to clarify that at that time, I was a Christian but Ryan was not. We both came back to Arlington the following summer and started working and hanging out together again. When August rolled around, we went back to school. Ryan was only in College Station for one night before he moved back to Arlington for good. You see, the next day, through a series of circumstances, Ryan recognized that he was a sinner who needed a Savior. He recognized Jesus as Lord and the rest is pretty much history. Side note--Ryan has a pretty incredible testimony. You should ask him about it if you haven't heard it. Anyway, we started dating again a couple months later (October 1999). We got engaged 6 months after that (April 2000) and then married 2 years later (April 2002). I can't believe we've known each other for almost a whole decade!

4. How old is your man? Ryan will be the big 3-0 on January 13! (My sweet husband was actually born on Friday the 13th.)

5. Who eats more? It depends. I would say he can typically eat more than I can, but when it comes to sweet treats, I can beat him hands down!

6. Who said "I love you" first? Ryan did.

7. Who is taller? Ryan definitely is. 6'3". He's one tall drink of water! It's great to be able to wear heels as tall as I want, and he's still much taller.

8. Who sings better? I think Ryan does. Besides his singing talents, he's also an excellent song-writer. We often make up silly songs for each other.

9. Who is smarter? Definitely Ryan. He might try and argue with me on that, but he'd be wrong. :) Ryan excels at EVERYTHING he does, especially at school. He is brilliant!

10. Whose temper is worse? That's a tough call. His, I guess. I don't really see it all that often though.

11. Who does the laundry? I usually do, but Ryan started it for me tonight.

12. Who takes out the garbage? Whoever has time.

13. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? If you're facing our bed, then Ryan does. Really, though, it depends on where the door is in whatever room we sleep in. Ryan always sleeps closest to the door. It makes me feel safer. He's my Knight in Shining Armor. He also always walks between me and the street.

14. Who pays the bills? I used to, but Ryan took over awhile back and does a great job at it!

15. Who is better with the computer? Ryan. He knows HTML and all that advanced stuff.

16. Who mows the lawn? Ryan does.

17. Who cooks dinner? Ryan does. Praise the Lord for this one! I am not a good cook, nor do I enjoy cooking. God so perfectly designed us that Ryan is everything I'm not. Ryan is an excellent cook and likes to do it. (I told you before Ryan is really good at everything he does.)

18. Who drives when you are together? Ryan does.

19. Who pays when you go out? Ryan does. I hate calculating the tip. Ryan is really good at math and can do it so quickly. Are you noticing a pattern yet on who does everything around our house? I promise--it doesn't sound like it, but I do help some.

20. Who is most stubborn? Hmm. Very tough question. We definitely both have our stubborn streaks. I would probably say Ryan, but he would probably say me. :)

21. Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? Again, tough question. Really, it depends on what we're wrong about. We're both fairly good at it.

22. Whose parents do you see the most? It's pretty close, but I would say Ryan's mom. Almost all of our family lives in Texas, so visits are somewhat rare. Ryan's brother lives in Nashville, so his mom can usually see them both in one visit.

23. Who kissed who first? He kissed me first.

24. Who asked who out? Ryan did. He did.

25. Who proposed? Ryan did. It was such an elaborate proposal and is a wonderful story. He planned everything out, and it began with a bridal bouquet being sent to me in my Marriage and Family class one Friday morning. Ryan is such a romantic! I mean, who has flowers delivered to them during their college class!? I'm so tempted to spill the whole story. But I'll leave it at this, and you'll just have to ask to find out more. ;)

26. Who is more sensitive? It depends what you mean by "sensitive." Ryan is really good at being sensitive to people's feelings. I probably get my feelings hurt more easily, though.

27. Who has more friends? Ryan does. We have pretty much the same friends, but Ryan is much better about keeping up with people than I am.

28. Who has more siblings? Hmm. Let me think. I guess Ryan does. He has 1 brother, 6 half brothers and a half sister. I have a half brother and a half sister, as well as a half sister whom I've never met. I also have 2 step brothers and 2 step sisters.

29. Who wears the pants in the family? Ryan does. I am so thankful that I was designed to submit because I would hate to have to lead all the time.

30. What's your favorite thing about your man? The way he loves other people. He genuinely wants to know the hearts of others. He cares for people in such a Christ-like way.

Jennifer, thank you for the tag. I don't take nearly enough time thinking and talking about how blessed I am to have Ryan.

Now, tag you're it:
Jill
Suzanne
Jenny
Ashley
Cara
Heather
Kelly
Kristi
Karen
LeeAnn
Heather
Jennifer
Emily
Stephanie
Emily
Jaimie
Jessica

(By the way, I added that last question. Feel free to add your own!