Today we celebrate Rachel’s birthday.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BYT9eROn2u_/?taken-by=david_t_good

She’s my helpmeet, my friend, my lover and a darn good cook.

This last week I made a bedside table for her:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BYYMRMoHhKP/?taken-by=david_t_good

That was fun to make. I just kind of winged it, drawing out the outline of a single leg on a board, then cutting it out and using it as the template for the other two legs. The pinched waist looks more attractive to me than a simple straight leg design. It was a little tricky to assemble but came out okay with a little tweaking.

Rachel picked a table she liked from pictures on an image search, then I redesigned it to look more attractive. The local wood is beautiful stuff and I’ve enjoyed hunting down pieces. This table is made from “red cedar,” which isn’t a true cedar. Specifically, it’s Cedrela odorata, a cousin of mahogany.

One thing that always makes me cringe is when men refer to their wives as their “better half.” That’s not only degrading to his position, it also implies that each person is only half an individual. Nope, we’re each our own person, complete and with our own unique spheres of influence and skills. She homeschools the children, does the laundry and makes great food for the family. I write books, do the farming and bring home the bacon.

Literally.

We love bacon.

When she’s hit her emotional edge, I am a rock for her. When I’m beat, she’s an encourager. We’re a team and have taken the rough edges off each other over the years and grown closer as we raise children and grow in our faith and knowledge.

Happy birthday, my love. Glad we are walking this path hand-in-hand and that God put us together in a sacred covenant.

You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride;
    you have stolen my heart
with one glance of your eyes,
    with one jewel of your necklace.
How delightful is your love, my sister, my bride!
    How much more pleasing is your love than wine,
and the fragrance of your perfume
    more than any spice!