Common Ground

11. Dean comes from a painting-mom home. I think this is one of my favorite things I first learned about him. He grew up knowing what it is like to come home after school to different colored walls than he left in the morning. (LOVE this black and white design on bathroom walls. Must try it someday.)

12. Dean knows how to make tortillas, from scratch. I like tortillas! I want to politely ask if he will cook for us, and teach me his mad tortilla making skills when he visits.

13. Dean is generous. He let me drive his car during Thanksgiving break. He gave our kids incredible video games for Christmas, wrapping them super nicely.

14. Dean chose to go to BYU, Provo. It is the only school Emma's dad applied to. The only one I wanted to go to. The one my parents met at. We love BYU, not in a watch-all-the-games kind of way. I loved how I felt on campus. Loved the devotionals and Tuesday lectures. Loved the teachers. Loved the library. Loved International Cinema. Loved the fencing team. Loved the geeky science fiction club. Love, still, the guy I met there...

15. Dean is nice to his sister. They have fun together. They still play together. They talk. They are friends. I admire that. I think it speaks well of him.