His real name is Jeff.

You might be wondering why I call

the man in my life

THE LIFEGUARD

especially when

he can't even swim!

In fact, a cutie-pa-tootie,
real, live, licensed
lifeguard
asked me that
very question
a few weeks ago.

Well, if you were hangin' around my life in 1989
you know the situation I was in before
Jeffrey Keel Hutchins
rode in on his white horse.

But we won't get into that story
as I've left it right were I dropped it,
back there in 1989.

We'll just jump right into the story of how
the Lifeguard the came to be.

It was in that year, of 1989,

when I received a phone call from

a cute, 21 year old, red-headed boy

who went by the name of

JEFF

He was inviting me to join him
for the biggest event in town
The
Old Folks
Sociable

As we enjoyed the evening,
there was a lot of
starring and
pointing
in our direction.

However we were mostly unaware,
for that night was
the beginning of our...

Nine hours later, at the end of that first date

we both knew we'd found forever.

In one fell swoop,
that boy named Jeff
took my hand
and pulled me
out of a situation
I'd been stuck in
for far too long.

Since that day,
I've said it
a million times
and will say it
for eternity...
He saved me.


It was then, he forever, became

The one who has saved me from much,

including FEAR.

As the wedding plans began,

it was fun and exciting

until...

 a lump

was discovered.

Since there wasn't time

before the wedding

my surgery took place on our

One Month

Anniversary.

Before I was wheeled into

the operating room,

I was handed a paper to sign.

It gave permission for a

 hysterectomy to be performed,

if it was deemed medically necessary.

My young 20 year old eyes

looked at the Lifeguard.

He nodded his head and

told me it was okay.

Then he slept next to me in

a cot for the next 5 days.

Since then, I've had

most of my organs removed.

(just kidding, but really kind of seriously)

He has never

left me alone in the hospital...

not one time...

not for one minute.

Ten years ago, I had one diagnosis that I thought would kill me.

The Lifeguard saved me from slipping into paralyzing fear.

------------------------------------------------------

has saved me from

    GLOOM AND DOOM.

When I am sad because

my boys are growing up

he'll let me

dream about

grand-babies

and we both smile.

He says when they come

I can buy lots of

pink things

because our sons are sure

to ONLY have

girly-girls.

Then we laugh hysterically!

He was there as

each one of my

grandparents died.

He let me cry

 as much as I wanted too.

He was there when

baby boy was born.

We cried

together.

------------------------------------------------------

has saved me from

FREEZING TO DEATH.

My temperature

varies from his, significantly.

So he bought a car

where I can control my

own heat

and where the seat can

light one's tush on fire.

He takes me away

when I'm too cold or

the weather is too yucky.

He will take me

wherever

the sunshine is.

He made sure our home had a

fireplace

and he doesn't care if I

leave it on all day,

even during July.

He doesn't even get mad

when it's blowing and

so is the air-conditioner.

However, he doesn't like

the space heater I have.

He's afraid it'll

burn the house down

but he never says so out loud,

very often.

And when I shuttered and

shivered

at the baseball field

he bought me a

  portable heater.

He even carries it for me

and buys me lots of

propane.

A few of my brothers say

the Lifeguard is

a Saint

because he never

complains about my

flannel pajamas.

But I know, Saint or not, he really wishes

I'd come to bed without the socks.

------------------------------------------------------

has saved me from

MYSELF.

I tend to run faster

than I have strength

He helps me see

when that's happening

and helps me say no.

He knows I get uptight

watching the boys play ball

and suggested I keep

a scorebook

to distract me.

It worked.

I'm thinking a few dad's I sit next to

ought to take it up.

------------------------------------------------------

has saved me from

GUILT.

He accepts that

I hate to cook

and doesn't let me

feel bad about it

even though I curse

myself

all the time.

He supports me in my

addiction

to purchase gifts

years in advance

of when they'll be needed.

He doesn't care that

I like Facebook

and defends me

when people say

it's a sin.

He supports me in

my callings

even though my millions

of meetings take me

away from him.

He appreciates

the things

I feel passionate about

even though

they take

alot of time.

He loves the things

I love,

like the 6 guys

I grew up with

and all the

little people

that are attached to them.

He loves

the three

he grew up with

and all their

little people

and he shares

them with me.

He always has a

clear head

when mine gets all

foggy.

------------------------------------------------------

So see,  it's actually quite simple how

Jeffrey Keel Hutchins

came to be...

He saved me just last night when

I fell asleep on the couch

He didn't leave me there.

He lead me to bed

and kissed me goodnight.

He likes to sleep with me.

When I first started

blogging,

I would stay up

all night to do it.

He bought me this laptop

so I would come to bed.

I'm in bed right now

with the laptop

and with him.

He's snoring

and kind of hogging the bed.

He does that.

I'm in flannel

and thinking that

I love the snorer

more today

than I did in 1989

after that

first date

AND...

I'm thinking where

I might be

if he hadn't come along

and

saved me.

I think about that alot and then

I count my blessings.

Number one...

always, ALWAYS being