Let me now explain the reason for the title.

Our second Christmas together, my husband gifted me with a crown, with small diamonds at the points. He said that as I made him feel like he was King of his Castle, that would make me his queen. It's often something we joke about, and it makes me feel wonderful.

I am married to a wonderful man! Loving, caring, devoted, so very good to me! He is also an amazing dad, something he hadn't aspired to be previously, but the little princess adores him, even when he really behaves like a DAD!!

For example...my daughter takes belly dancing lessons. She's very good, and darned if I can figure out how she moves the way she does sometimes! But recently, she was at a friend's house down the hill, a little impromptu get together with swimming and burgers. Anyway, she was brought home without notice, by a young man in a white car. Just up the hill, not really a big deal, as the distance is not great enough to commit any real driving faux pas. She dashed into the house, explaining as she went to her room, that her friends wanted a 'demonstration' of her dancing (wiggling?) skills. That was enough to kick his majesty's mood into 'this-is-my-daughter-you're-talking-about mode. Whilst the child gathered her garments, he wiped his hands, threw down the towel, and when she appeared, he announced that she might want to hang back a bit, as she might be a little embarassed at what he had to say to the young man in the driver's seat.

The conversation was reported to me as follows.

Hubby: You're XX?
Young Man (XX): Yeah.
Hubby.: K's friend? (K is the young man at the bottom of the hill, friend of daughter.)
XX: Yeah.
Hubby: Well, I'm (princess's) Dad. I just wanted to let you know, that I know what goes on inside the mind of a young man, and if anyone lays a hand on my little girl, they will NEVER use that hand again for anything. Am I clear?
XX: Yeah.
Hubby: Okay, just wanted to get it straight. Have a nice night.

Princess was...apologetic to her friend, who basically brushed it off...but when she returned, she reported that while she was giving her demonstration, it was only the girls who watched, the boys busied themselves with the bonfire, ignoring her.

I think she was more pleased with his reaction than she cared to admit, because while she said she was angry with him...well, teenagers can be moody on a good day, and she took the whole incident in stride, and actually laughed about it with him.

Yeah...::grin:: I really do love my husband.

I've never been one for teasing. Let me rephrase that. I've never taken being teased well. An aunt, not much older than I, did a great deal of tormenting, and regardless of whether it was there or not, I always heard a great deal of underlying venom when teased by my stepfather. I supposed I felt...ganged up on.

But...my husband's taught me to let go of that. And I am...very grateful!

Case in point, a few weeks ago, I fell off my shoe and broke my foot. For the second time, I might add. As a result, I have two additional nicknames...Gracie....and Thumper. (Although, the latter perhaps refers to more than the thump of my cast on the hardwood floors!) I don't mind a bit. I hear no venom in his voice, and his beautiful blue eyes tell me that while he might think I'm a klutz, he loves me anyway. I adore his smile, his voice...his arms around me! Any hell I've gone through in my life is worth every second it took to get here, to him, to our home, and his love.

Not to say we don't have our moments...

At any rate, today he busily cleaned out the garage...and I did things inside, making his castle more comfortable. I prepared a meal, and now is the time for us to relax a bit. We have a long day tomorrow.

Good night, my King. Our love will ever rule!