The Priceless Gift Your Husband Will Love (that won’t cost you a dime)

By Gail Roddy on Friday, May 9, 2014

Priceless For Your Husband

This priceless gift for your husband will make him smile from ear-to-ear.  And did I mention the cost begins with a “z” and rhymes with hero?

I love surprising my husband with unique and low (or no) cost gifts.  So when I met Gail Roddy in Minneapolis last month, and she told me about this cool thing she was doing for her anniversary, I asked if she’d be willing to also share it with our entire community.

She said yes.

Until Monday…make it a great weekend!

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Oftentimes, it can be a challenge figuring out ways to celebrate our husbands. (They have the same challenge, I’m sure!)  

When I shared with Fawn something special I did for my husband, Bill, she asked if I’d also share it with each of you.

Bill and I celebrated our 24th wedding anniversary last month.  We’ve never been big on exchanging purchased gifts. (In the early years we had very little money anyway!)  This year, I wanted to create and share something memorable and priceless.

I designed a 10-Day Countdown To Our Anniversary.  Each of the nine nights leading up to our anniversary, I wrote and posted a brief and loving letter on his Facebook wall that reflected my thoughts about his wonderful character, such as:

  • the man who makes me so happy
  • his wedding day surprise behavior
  • supporter of my talents
  • businessman
  • father figure/mentor to hundreds of at-risk young men.

(If you’d prefer a more private way to do this, rather than on Facebook, you can surprise him with one letter a day at the most opportune time and place.)

No need to wait until your anniversary either.  You can do this any time of the year – even now!  You also don’t have to write and post for 10 days. You could do 7, 5, or even 3 days. Each day, you write a short message to your man and post it on his Facebook timeline. If he has no Facebook page, post it in an e-mail or text message. A wonderful extra touch is to include a favorite picture of him!

You’re not a writer?  You don’t have to be. This is written from your heart. The heart has no shame about its writing skills. It just speaks its truth. His heart will resonate.

To get you started, I offer you the use of my beginning and ending. Use the exact words, if you’d like, or change them according to your heart’s song.

Here’s how I began each letter:

  • “In 9 (8, 7,6, etc.) Sunsets we will celebrate The Day We Were Wed
    I shall tenderly count down the days ahead…”

The rest of my text also continued as poetry. I didn’t intend to create poetry.  But a short poem created itself from my fond reminiscence of my man and our marriage.

Each of my letters ended with:

  • “And so ends the Fourth (Fifth, Sixth, etc) Night
    Of these letters of longing and love from Your Wife…”

Have FUN with your intro whether you use mine or you create one!

Next, write what you are thankful for about YOUR mate. No, no, it does not have to be poetry.  A single sentence from your heart is worth more to your man than all the brilliant poetry ever created. Trust me.

You could praise him about his skills as:

  • father
  • lover
  • military service
  • volunteer passion
  • provider
  • protector
  • teacher
  • friend

I’m sure your husband’s list of skills and attributes could go on and on!

Bill was thrilled and touched.  Each night he was more excited than the previous night, anticipating the next heart-felt letter from me.

This simple gift is special because it is completely from the heart (it’s also easy to do – and costs you nothing).  Why not design a similar anniversary (or birthday) commemoration your husband will forever treasure?  Remember, you needn’t write 10 days.  A series of 7 or 5 or even 3 is great too.  Just do it in such a way that he’ll anticipate each day more and more.

It’s your heart that matters to him.  It’s his life’s inspiration, in more ways than one…

Peace and Joy Forever,

 Gail

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Happy Wives Club Book

 

THE NEW YORK TIMES® BEST-SELLING BOOK: It’s been described as, “Like Eat, Pray, Love but not down on marriage.” Make sure to check out the Happy Wives Club book.  I had the great honor of traveling to 12 countries on 6 continents, interviewing couples happily married 25 years or more, with 1 mission only: to find out what makes marriages happy…and keeps them that way.  It’s a marriage book line none other.  Guaranteed.

While blogging about marvelous marriage, supportive sisterhood, and healing health at Gailroddy.com, Gail also nurtures her mind, body, and soul cherishing husband Bill, vegan cooking, growing gorgeous irises, and caring for Mom.

 

Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are snarky, offensive, or off-topic. If in doubt, read My Comment Policy
  • Megan Dugas

    I did something similar to this. In February, which is my husband’s birthday month, I posted on my Facebook status one thing I loved about my husband. I wanted to publicly tell him why I loved him and put a positive marriage message on FB, plus I enjoyed honoring him in this way.

    • http://www.happywivesclub.com/ Fawn @ Happy Wives Club

      Oh, I LOVE this, Megan! I bet you had him blushing like crazy :) .

    • Gail

      I’ve heard that some men might not like my idea of love notes shared on social media. It seems your husband was pleased with a public message of how you cherish him. My hubby loved it too.

  • Mathi Surendran

    I too enjoyed a beautiful relationship with my husband. In those days there were no face book or any such social medias. In fact i did not know how to operate a computer too. This was some twenty five years ago. But I did make my husband’s birthday very special. I always dressed in the color he loved, cooked his favorite dish, showed him how special the day was for me and made him feel the king of the family. Though he is no more I can never forget the happiness he felt.

    • http://www.happywivesclub.com/ Fawn @ Happy Wives Club

      Wow. Thanks for sharing this, Mathi. It’s a great reminder that life is but a vapor and that time with each other we are tempted to take for granted, may be our last.

    • Gail

      Oh, I love that Mathi. Men are visual (as my hubby reminds me all the time), so dressing in the color he loved must have pleased him immensely. A poignant reminder to us all that today is the day to be happy and to strive to share ourselves in integrity and honor.

  • Jenny Gaffer

    My problem is, my husband and I do this sort of thing all the time, for no reason at all…so when it comes to a special gift that doesn’t cost anything, I can’t use this idea :(

    • http://www.happywivesclub.com/ Fawn @ Happy Wives Club

      Oh bummer! Well, hopefully we’ll post one you can use. But even if we don’t, it sounds like you guys are doing great in the “love for no reason” department. Outstanding!

    • Gail

      I’m so glad you do this all the time. That’s wonderful!

  • Katherine Leppo

    This is a wonderful idea :) I love leaving my man notes, if he has a late shift at work I’ll drive over when I get off and we have a little notebook in his car just so I can leave a note :)
    Our first year anniversary is in a week and we are so excited. We both got a week off work and we can celebrate :)
    Thank you for all that you do. I am a happy wife. It is cool to find support in that.. When most around us.. just say it’s not gonna last.

    • http://www.happywivesclub.com/ Fawn @ Happy Wives Club

      Excited for you, Katherine! Misery loves company. Don’t let anyone tell you it’s not going to last. I can’t tell you the number of couples I’ve met, who were told the same thing, and have been happily married 25, 35, even 55 years. If you decide it will last, it will be happy, and have no plan B – that’s exactly what you will create. I’m rooting for you!

    • Gail

      And please do keep writing these notes to him Katherine. Congratulations on your upcoming first anniversary! The 24 years Bill and I have been married have flown by so fast. You’ve created a wonderful foundation. You will turn around one day and you too, will find you love that man as much on your 24th as you did on your 1st. I promise.

  • nancy Alfred

    I had a serious quarrel with my husband due to my parent because my parent never liked him to be my husband, but i love him so much that i will rather die to let him go off me, that was how i met this great man of voodoo online, he told me that everything will be fine that he can do a spell that will make my parent love him and allow me to marry him without any quarrel thoroughly it came to pass my mum and dad love him most than before we are now happy married family,please help me in thanking him for his help, here is the email esangopriest@gmail.com

  • http://www.osasandgodwin.com osas R.

    i was waiting to start before i comment, this article came at the right time, tomorrow the 14TH MAY will be our 6 months wedding anniversary (yes, you heard me right).a lot of my friends are surprise that i am celebrating as much as i am, cos they feel 6th month is too early to be celebrating, i have not stop telling people about it. one of reason why i am celebrating is that i have enjoy every single day of been married.I’m definitely a happy wife. i have the most awesome husband in the world. I have been thinking of what to do for the 6th month anniversary, so when i saw this article, i was so super excited… i have started my 3 DAYS COUNTDOWN TO MY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY ON his Facebook Timeline…HE IS SUPER EXCITED! He has been showing friends and colleagues my post.

    • http://www.happywivesclub.com/ Fawn @ Happy Wives Club

      That is awesome!! Celebrate whenever and however you want. Your marriage will be as happy and loving as you decide; no one else. Congratulations!