Happy Valentine’s Day, Sweet Things!
My Valentine of 30 years is in the next room sawing logs. He’ll hear the dogs barking pretty soon and come stumbling out of the room with his hair looking a little Mohawkish from sleeping hard on both sides. Mine, on the other hand, has that Tina Turner look this morning. He’ll then holler something out the back door at Star and Geli that I’ll wish the neighbors hadn’t heard, especially when he sees that they’ve dug a flower bed to China. I do dearly love that man. He keeps me honest.
Our first Valentine’s Day together had us dating about four months. I was completely smitten by how gorgeous he was and by how much money he’d spend on a date. Daddy’s money. I didn’t care. I didn’t even have to pay my own way to the movie. He was one of those rare people in a State college that actually had some cash in his pocket. But here’s where he got me. On our first real date, he took me to dinner then afterward said, “Why don’t we go have a cup of coffee?” We went to an all-night diner and drank weak coffee (all I could handle at the time; I wasn’t the pro I am now) out of heavy off-white cups sitting in heavy off-white saucers that clunked when you set the cup down. Every time the waitress poured a refill, it sloshed over the edge and pooled into the saucer and I thought how my Pappaw used to finish his off by tipping it and slurping loudly out of it. The young man that sat before me was a conversationalist. A beautiful one at that. And I was in love. Turned out, he was the only person I’d ever met that was as messed up as me. Order the tux. Rent the dress. It’s a match made in…Heaven.
My first Valentine’s present from Keith was a fishing pole. I was taken aback. You should have seen what the man got me for Christmas two months earlier. Where had the romance gone? A fishing pole. A green and black one. Not even my colors. He was also the only one at the PKA house with a bass boat I might add. He loaded me, that ugly flat boat and a pair of fishing poles up with all the promise of Abraham and headed us to Canyon Lake, not too far from our university. I hated what I had on. After a short set of lessons in keeping with his short fuse, he said, “OK, now give it a shot. You’re wide open. Just don’t hit that limb right over there.” And suddenly that limb was all on earth I could focus on. I kept looking at it and mumbling, “Don’t hit that limb right over there, don’t hit that limb right over there, don’t hit that limb right over there,” then I performed my very first…and last…fishing cast and hit that limb square on as if I’d spent my life training for it. That hideous lure spun around that branch for ten solid minutes while Keith said a string of somethings that I should have broken up with him for.
He never did get that outdoors woman he wanted. I never did get that church boy.
But here we are. Every day’s a new day. Some days I’m not sure we’ll make it. Other days eternity doesn’t sound long enough to know him. We’re both such messed up people that we’ve each been married to half a dozen spouses that all somehow looked alike. Today we’re Mohawk Man (you might say “Spike”) and Tina Turner.
So, what’s love got to do with it? Got to do with it?
A ton. You keep praying for it every single day of your marriage and you will it again till you feel it again. And one February night, like our last night, you just might be sitting on the floor with your three-year-old grandson playing cars while your man’s sitting in his easy chair with your nine-day-old granddaughter in his enormous hands and you’ll see tears streaming down his cheeks as he looks at her. And so many hard times will fade away like the morning mist. They’ll probably be back tomorrow and you might wonder how you’re going to make it, but you just decide to keep on. You just keep making the choice and hope he will, too. Because, make no mistake, it takes two.
I’ve never done anything harder than marriage. Nor anything that forced more change in my badly-needed-change life.
I love Keith Moore. Again today. He is my life-long Valentine. He’s who I long to hear say those words of Mr. Darcy to Miss Elizabeth Bennett, “You have bewitched me.” That’s so much better than, “You’ve been such a witch to me.” No, he’s never said that. But, Lord, don’t let me be the kind of woman that makes him think it.
I also have an eternity-long Valentine who reigns in the Heavens. He is breathtakingly handsome and will spend more on a date than any man alive. Daddy’s riches. I pray this day that you will thoroughly savor your Valentine, whether he is flesh and blood in all his wonderful imperfections in front of your eyes, or veiled from sight in such gleaming perfections that you couldn’t live through a glance of Him if He showed up at your table. You are your Beloved’s and His desire is toward you. Song of Songs 7:10. If you don’t have a romantic interest in your life this year, let Jesus woo you today. Read what He’s like in Psalm 45. Take a long walk with him. Or go get yourself some flowers from Him. I dare you to. That’s His money in your pocket. Journal a long time to Him and tell Him your hopes and dreams. He’s more vividly real than anything you can touch with your fingertips or see with your eyes, Beloved One.
Jesus, woo her this day. Make her feel so tended to that she wonders how anyone else on earth could sense you today.
Happy Valentine’s Day, my dear sisters.
Here’s what I thought would be fun today. As your comment, tell a brief account of your most memorable Valentine whether it was something sweet, hilarious, or infuriating. I can’t wait to read them. I love you and think you are such a blast.
PS – This is Amanda. I just showed my mom this picture and she demanded that I post it here immediately. Here are my two February Valentines.
Beth,
I wanted to let you know that I was working through my Esther workbook this week when I came across the paragraph (near the end) where you commend us for persevering with the study and invite us to bask in God’s approval. It hit me at the end of a hard day, and I found myself tearing up. (That’s tearing as in tears, not tearing as in damaging the pages.) I think God wanted me to have that affirmation, but I’m having some trouble accepting it.
I don’t want to kill the mood on the blog (what wonderful stories!), so I won’t share my only Valentine’s Day memory with you because it involves a prank someone pulled on someone else at my expense – I was collateral damage in a Valentine’s Day joke. I will say that as a perpetual single, I appreciate your encouragement. I honestly don’t know how to feel God’s love for me, but He keeps saying in Scripture that He has unfailing love. Instead of a rose, I think I’ll go copy one of those verses in the back of my Bible.
HILARIOUS – My security word is “seducom”. Is that a new techie word for an online courtship?
Eight years ago I was pregnant with our youngest son. We only have two because I threw up every single day of my pregnancy for 7 1/2 months. Anyway, I would have been about 6 1/2 months pregnant on Valentine’s day. Needless to say, romance had really gone down the toilet during that time. He had this rule about kissing me after I’d puked. Can you blame him? I really tried to do something special for that Valentine’s day. I went to the Walmart and bought the BIGGEST silky thing I could find to tent my body. I took my anti-nausea meds early in the day so that I wouldn’t be asleep too early that evening. I made it through our intimate evening without throwing up. Mission accomplished. Sometimes it’s the little things that make a day special. Thanks for sharing yours!
My husband, of not very long, has cooked dinner every Valentine’s Day for the past six years (the desert is my thing). I love turning the kitchen over to him (I also pray a lot while he’s in there). I love hearing him ask questions like, “what does it mean to dice?” or “what does sear mean?” This year is attempting something that involves flames (Lord, let the kitchen not catch on fire).
My favorite story however involves the year I asked him to get a “can of white frosting.” I came home to find a head of cauliflower? He said he had spent a significant amount of time on the canned vegetable isle, and even asked a store employee where he might find “a can of white broccoli.” The employee suggested cauliflower, but all they had was fresh. I kissed him on the cheek and told him he was the most endearing man I had ever known. This story makes us laugh every year, and I look forward to more memories like this to come.
Beth, you have made me cry once again. It’s all good, dont worry.
Amanda, oh my, what a precious picture. Oh my.
Memorable Valentine? Maybe one comes every year. This year, totally unexpected flowers when we are struggling financially. How can I get mad? The first dinner he cooked me for Valentines Day: Chicken Kiev, in college in the dorm kitchen. Amazing.
What I want most to give my Valentine: the opportunity to hear about Jesus, so he comes to know Him and we have the assurance of eternity together.
Oh dear, I can’t follow directions about this post because I’m wiping so many tears from my eyes right now! And I’m a big direction follower, believe me….over-achiever, that’s me. But today, my sweet husband is so concerned about his mom in the hospital that he has been unable to be a Valentine to me. You know what? Our Father has loved on me like no other time and we have had such a sweet day together! Thank you for your words, Beth. Right on time, my sister. And Amanda? The sweetest two Valentines I’ve seen outside my own two!
Once you are married love is a choice you make each day-I choose to love him, I choose to love him.
My first valentines after I was married I waited all day for flowers. As the receptionist I saw every woman in our office get flowers except for me. It was a very LONG day. My husband got home very late that night from work to a very “cool” reception. About an hour after he got home he finally said, “Why haven’t you thanked me for the flowers?” I said what flowers I didn’t get any flowers. Come to find out the florist had a car accident that day and was unable to deliver. I got flowers AND chocolates the next day to make up for it!
I had to laugh at your getting a fishing Pole. One of the first presents my husband gave me when we were dating was a shot gun, then we had to go out duck hunting! And NO i never became the outdoors woman he wanted either 🙂
I think this year has to be my most surprising gift ever. My husband is not really much of a romantic. i get the usual, flowers, and candy but this year he really surprised me. The UPS man delivered a box yesterday. It said Pajama Gram on it. I’m like what in the world is this? and who would have sent this to me? i opened it up. inside was a pair of warm , fluffy flannel pajamas, and a sachet filled with lavendar.I’m like, awe so cute, but i really didn’t have a clue who they were from, so i looked at the card. they were from my husband for valentines day! that was a total shock! I’m not sure why that surprised me so much except it was so unlike him. but it was a very nice surpirse!
What a fabulous photo!
– Michelle
Six years ago today, I was on bed-rest with our first child, Alec. I had been on bed-rest for 4 weeks and 4 more to go….and I was depressed and worried about our baby being born. My sweet ‘ol husband couldn’t take me out on a date, nor have a romantic dinner at the table, so instead he got me a Vermont Teddy bear. The bear was a pregnant bear with a “baby on board” sign on the shirt. She had on maternity pants that was so cute with a pregnant belly… That was his loving way of showing that he loved me and that he cared. We just got back from celebrating our 12th Valentine’s together and now enjoying the evening with our two boys watching movies and eating Valentine cookies. Happy Valentine’s Day to you all!
I can’t think of anything that stands out, but I know this year (15 yrs together) was the 1st Valentines Day where we had lived long enough together to experience some serious hard stuff and some beautiful perseverence.
We are far from perfect. God sees us through. He does.
And, one more thing…the scholarship deal is AMAZING. My heart just jumped when I read that. Way to go LPM. Glory to God for what we can do together.
Blessings and love,
Fran
Well I am happily single and I must admit sometimes on days like today it may be a bit hard.
My best friend from h.s. who is single with four boys and I went to lunch and a movie and we had such a good time.
We went to see Last Chance Harvey, a feel good movie.
I got home and had a card in my mail from my sweet little 13 year old friend Cody who considered my late mother “his best friend”. Someday he will grow out of sending me cards but until he does I cherish them.
Ooops….I hear the cats into my Chiii’s doggie bag….guess I better go….love the pic of Jackson and “girl”. He has the biggest and best grin and makes everyone smile!
CAROL ALBUQUERQUE NM
THANK YOU MAMA SEISTA FOR SHARING YOUR STORY WITH US AND BEING SO HONEST WITH US SEISTA I ECHO SIESTA KIMBERLY WORDS I AM 51 YRS OLD AND SOON TO TO BE 52 YRS OLD AND SINGLE SOMETIMES IT GETS FUSTRATING TO BE BY YOURSELF BUT THE GOOD LORD IS MY LOVE AND MY SAVIOUR. I WENT OUT TODAY TO WALMART AND BOUGHT MY DOG A TOY AND A NICE PINK COLLAR WITH HEARTS SHE IS MY LOVE HER NAME IS HERSHEY SHE DEFINTLEY IS MY BABY. LOVE THE PICTURE OF JACKSON AND OUR LITTLE SEISTA ANNABETH HAVE A GREAT VALENTINES DAY MAMA SEISTA LOVE EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU AND I CAN ONLY SAY THAT BECAUSE GOD FIRST LOVE ME . HUGS AND LOVE TO YOU ALL
CAROL
Beth! I can not believe that you posted this today…well, actually, I can. God has been showing me that He wants to be THE man in my life right now. I am 28 & single, albeit wishing otherwise. I have been looking for Mr Right for as long as I can remember. I have had conversations with God about this very subject and begged/asked/pleaded with him to bring my man in the picture…but someone recently pointed out to me, Why would God bring something into your life that would take away time from Him? She then challenged me to let Him be the man in my life. To spend the time that I would spend in a relationship with a guy with God instead. TO LET HIM WOO ME!!! Since that time, I have had confirmation after confirmation that this is what I was supposed to do. Everything from a sermon reminding us that we are the BRIDE of Christ…to seeing an ad for an upcoming ladies event on the back of the stall door in the restroom at church, after a very moving sermon, with the verse from Isaiah 54…Your Maker is your HUSBAND!!! I was like, okay God, Im starting to get the feeling you want to date me! Lol!
And now, Im back from a beautiful wedding on Valentine's day, the day we celebrate love, and you post this beautiful post about Love and Marriage. Confirmation number three!
My desire has changed so much… to learn as much as I can about God and His word…I am excited to see where our relationship takes us!!!
Thank you for posting about the truth of your marriage…I love it!
And I love you!
Happy Valentines Day!!
Nikki
ps I didnt get a chance to proof read so this could be horrible!!
My most memorable was today. A year ago as I held my month old son and marveled in his perfection, I had no idea that just four months later we would discover a severe heart defect requiring immediate surgery. Thankfully, he came through beautifully but we soon realized we were forever on the road of congenital heart disease and it’s unknowns. We never knew that Valentine’s Day is also Congenital Heart Day…but this year we joined other heart warriors and families for a picnic to celebrate life and remember those who Jesus called home. I sat in the midst of all the kids with scars running up their chests and recalled all the Valentine’s Days of the past…gifts,cards, ridiculously expensive dinners eating too little food on too large a plate. It’s changed forever for us in a way we never imagined but we are hopeful..and we are grateful. A 42 heart hero said to me, “Heart disease has given my family more than it has ever taken away.” May it be so…and may we cling to the heart of the ONE who makes each of us in His image. Happy Heart Day.
PS..Thanks Miss B for the marriage encouragement. We all struggle so much and your honesty is a lifeboat. May God bless you and Keith abundantly.
One year, when I was just 20, my dad had flowers delivered to where I worked. It was such a lonely, sad time of life for me but that act of love brightened my day and I will never forget it as long as I live!
Mine always makes me the sweetest homemade valentines, and ONE of my favorite memories is the time he hired a male quartet to come to the library where I worked and sing for me. : )
Oh Beth – you are something else woman! What a post!
As I sit here in my chair with my laptop, my Valentine of 32 years is sitting an arm’s length away from me snoring to beat the band with his laptop open, and I am thinking…
Thank you Lord for giving this man to me, for keeping us together through good and bad, and for the wise Titus women along the way who always led by example – and told me “it gets better and better.”
Yes, it does – because you learn to pick your battles and discern between ant bites and snake bites. And you keep doing the right thing whether you “feel like it or not,”
and God blesses your efforts. And you learn to “esteem others higher than yourself” the secret to ANY marriage that is worth anything.
Thank you for investing in us and for your open heart of genuine love, and thank you for standing by your man – and for letting us know that it is hard but worth everything – I affirm that today.
I love you sister,
GJ
Jesus has been my Valentine all of my life, and this is the first year I am excited and not sad about that. This morning I told Him how much I love Him and how glad I am that He loves me. I have the BEST VALENTINE!! I will have to say that the reason I am ok with that this year is because of the Bible Study Esther. Beth, that study has set me free in so many ways! I have been in this process for a couple of years, but today I KNOW that He loves me! Thank You and Happy Valentine’s Day!
Shawn, Georgia
Well Siesta’s…Happy Valentine’s Day from Canada! 31 and single…not what I pictured for my life when I was a little girl dreaming of growing up. Not feeling bitter maybe a little sad. I know I need to let the Lord be my everything but the controlling side of me is having trouble letting go.
So this Valentine’s Day I spent with the most precious little 8 month old. My really good friends left last night for a week long cruise (a late honeymoon). I took the week off of work to take care of their most precious possession, Jordyn. My heart is crying out to the Lord once again for a little one of my own and having her here makes me all the more sure I want my own family.
I love my Lord and I want Him to fill all the holes in my heart. I know I only need Him and that everything else is just a wonderful blessing.
Love you all siestas. Wish I could be hanging out with all you other single siestas, eating some chocolate and painting our toenails! Pray for me with the baby please. This is my first time having a baby for more than a couple of hours! Day one down…9 more to go. 🙂
This year is my best Valentine’s Day. My husband of almost 27 years and I are going through some stressful financial times, so there was no “date” as in going out to dinner, flowers, candy, etc. But…we did hold each other close, and whispered how glad we were to have each other and how much love there was between us. I relate to you, Beth – my husband did not get a wife who enjoys being tickled and I did not get a church boy. Some days I have to grit my teeth and rely on God’s love for this man. But I wouldn’t trade him for anyone else. Yep, He is my Valentine and I thank God for him.
I can’t recall some far away Valentine today, because tonight I shared a picnic dinner of fondue (chocolate fondue too) on the living room floor with my boys.
All 3 of them. The 35 year old, the 3 year old and the 6 months old. All my Valentine’s, that will have my heart forever.
My most memorable Valentine, was 24years ago today when I married the sweet fella who is my husband. He is the best thing that ever happened to me. We have been through a lot together, but we have done it just like that… together. 3 children and 4 3/4 grandbabies later – he is still my Valentine.
I thank God for him every day.
In Him,
Beth
Lovin’ those “Baby Valentine’s!” PRECIOUS!
Today is the most precious day in my recent history. Hubs and I attended a (shameless plug) Jimmy Evans marriage conference at my church. It was such a blessing and at the end we did a vow renewal. Yesterday hubs brought me the most precious peachy-pin roses… A Dozen. He also selected a card for His Wife and His Friend. The verse on the front said, “Life is more beautiful when I look at it through your eyes.” He had the roses in cellophane and while I showered, he cut stems and arranged them in a vase himself. They are sweet to me in many, many ways. This morning as we took the exit to the church he sweetly kissed my hand and said, “I love you. Happy Valentine’s Day.” I Love Scott Bentham. I told him today, “I love being your wife.”
Beth, given the last month and a half, especially the fact that the first week of this year our marriage was in “do or die” status… This will be a Valentine’s Day I will never forget. The first when he bought me a gift all on his own – without coaching. Sweetness defined.
Given the fact that for years I have gotten no Christmas gift, Birthday gift, Mother’s day gift, etc… Your fishing pole would have been a welcome sight. Though we would have had to mount it on wood and hang it on the wall because I don’t fish. I don’t outdoors either… No Ma’am.
Thanks for asking. That picture you painted of Keith and Annabeth just slayed me. I cannot wait for the day ten or more years from now when I will be writing a grandbaby story of my own.
P. S. My husband bought me a rose on Monday … a rose and a tomato… just ’cause.
Blessings and Happy Valentines.
Michelle
So many of our Valentine’s Days in these 20 years of marriage have been spent apart but none forgotten – ever (he made that mistake on an anniversary one year:)
I really have 2 favorites. The first came 3 years ago when I received a handwritten card sent to me while he was half a world away in Iraq. He didn’t have shopping options so a simply written card with a picture of what he was up to would have to suffice. And oh how it did! He managed to find the time to make sure I knew he was thinking about me and loved me–on all days really but he marked it on that one.
The second favorite is actually today. I awoke to not 1, not 2, but 3 tulip plants to put in the garden. And after a church event this afternoon, I received a most cherished gift ever…a new Bible.
Oh how I’ve loved the flowers and jewelery over the years! But this bible is truly the one gift that will be new every day. It’s even red.
just 6 months before our wedding, my Martin gave me an exercise bike for Valentines…..imagine.
not only did I let him live, I married him and am eternally grateful for my loving man. He was only looking out for me after all. And he turned out to be gifted with foresight, just weeks after he gave me the bike I ended up needing it really badly – I blew out my knee, had to have knee surgery. Having the bike actually in the living room helped ensure that I was ready to walk down the aisle to join my Valentine.
He also delivers flowers, personally, on foot to my office every Valentines and Anniversary. The women in my office swoon…..the guys in my office say he is setting the bar much too high.
Thanks for sharing Beth.
Deirdre
Tonight…line dancing in our church fellowship hall with the “ancients” (my affectionate name for the 80+ crowd I gather with every Tuesday for lunch…of course in the spirit of Hebrews 11:1). You should have seen them, most without husbands to guide them, but nevertheless happy to be alive and moving and with some of their favorite people.
I just love ’em.
peace~elaine
My wonderful husband told my nephew the other day that he needed to find a woman who would mean it when she said, “Don’t do anything for Valentine’s Day.” And I do. For many years, we simply couldn’t afford it. Last year, things were better and he announced to me several months earlier that I no longer had a choice, we could afford it and he was getting flowers for me. I couldn’t wait! The most beautiful bouquet showed up at my office that day.
This year, we’ve chosen for me to not work and I begged him to send nothing to me. He came home last night with a single bar of Ghiradelli chocolate.
I just asked him what his memorable Valentine was. He didn’t have one either. Today was spent driving around the countryside with him shooting photographs. I just love being with him! Especially after 15 years.
Valentine’s Day has become more a day to celebrate God’s love for me than the relationship with my husband. I love my husband dearly. Two years ago a couple days before Valentine’s Day (not his timing… God’s), my husband told me the worst news a wife wants to hear and then again this year a couple days before, he once again told me similar news. I was heartbroken (and again this Valentine’s Day, I somewhat am again). I am married to a man who (before that announcement two years ago) could do no wrong in my eyes. God used that devastating news to reveal to me how I had placed my relationship with my husband before my relationship with my God. God showed Himself to be the most tender, compassionate, wonderful One anyone could be… The One who never left me nor forgot me in all of this. Since that Valentine’s Day two years ago, God has shown himself afresh to me and reminded me of my “first Love” (Rev. 2:4) So, while Valentine’s Day is someone bittersweet, it is a precious reminder of the Wonderful Redeemer I have who has shown me more love than I could have ever imagined, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” (I John 3:1)
After dating my Valentine for three years, I was expecting an engagement ring. Instead I got a baseball cap from his university! Imagine how dumbfounded I was. The ring did come a couple months later. After 10 years of marriage, I am still surprised by my man. Today I received a dozen roses and a motorcycle gear bag.
My most memorable Valentine’s Day was TODAY. My husband and I have been married for 11 years next month…and yes, Beth it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done, too. Well today I went off to the store which was a huge event in itself since we are new to our area (just moved here). I’ve been pretty timid on the busy roads, but knew my husband deserved some sort of Valentine gift. So, I braved the roads, picked out a great card, and got him some rootbeer–a rootbeer that is unique to our new hometown and that we both love. It’s become sort of a treat. I got myself home…gave him his gift. He smiled a big fat grin and asked me to put it in the fridge for him. Satisfied with his grin, I headed to the fridge, opened the door, and saw my gift from him–you guessed it…rootbeer. At first I hung my head, full of disappointment because my idea wasn’t as original as I’d thought. Then it hit me–my husband and I, two of THE MOST opposite people on planet earth are FINALLY becoming that “one flesh” that God joined together on our wedding day. Then I cried…and we each had a rootbeer.
Had to be right about 5 minutes ago. As I type this my men are cleaning up our fondue dinner. My man, my teen, my pre-teen and my little man.
Our Valentine tradition is Fondue. Because you see…I am FOND OF YOU. FONDUE. This day is looked to with much anticipation and delight. We laughed tonight, in the midst of heaviness. We celebrated, even though our finances are nothing to celebrate at the moment.
I am so thankful for a table with 6 filled chairs. So, grateful for the love that far outweighs anything tangible. Laughter that truly is the delight of my heart.
We have now spent 20 Valentines Day’s together. I was 15 when we started dating. I loved him from the beginning but in my own brokenness, I never knew life would look like it does today.It is only because the One who loved us first stooped down and drew us to himself. We have now been married (almost) 16 years. There are also 4 children who bear our name and our love of Jesus.
This is my favorite Valentine’s Day.
Today is the 17th anniversary of our very first date. We didn’t plan it to fall on Valentine’s Day, the man was away at college and this was a weekend he could come home. We enjoyed a movie and then pizza at a mom and pop place. At the table next to us, the owner’s daughter was in med school and apparently studying ob/gyn “stuff”. She had a VERY detailed textbook OPEN to some very ummm… revealing photos of childbirth.
I was terrified, embarrassed and do you know that I did NOT get up to refill my drink! There was no way I could walk past that table again! The man didn’t either…we laugh about it now, but goodness it made for a very uncomfortable dinner. 🙂
My mum went over the moon when it came to holidays—any holiday, even Arbor Day if it meant she had an excuse to send a card or a present. So one year, I got a HUGE box in campus mail, so big that the mailroom had to call my dorm and get me to pick it up, it was taking up too much space in the mailroom. They lent me a wheely thing to take it home! And that box was chock full of valentines and cookies for my entire floor, and streamers and balloons, etc—a party in a box (all obtained in the previous years’ sales, naturally). Both my parents are deceased now, and holidays are a little bittersweet because I know they’re in heaven, but I can’t stop thinking about how she would love to celebrate with her two new grandbabies. But I’ll never forget that box, it was like she was sending not just her love but as much joy and “good times” as she could in a care package to college. My mum rocks!
Meg
Beth,
My husband on Friday night went to get dog food and came home with a bottle of nyquil because I was not feeling well. The next morning we got up to go to the winter carnival and cook hamburgers and hotdogs on our portlable smoker. I was still sick and could not go. My husband gave me a card with the saying from songs of solomon, and of course a bag of valentine m&m's. That is why he went out late the night before to get dog food, he needed a card. I love him so much. Like your story mine somewhat runs the same way. We fish sping, summer, and fall. When winter comes we ice fish. But I love him inspite of it all. God gave him to me as a partner and I will stand by his side fish and all.
Judy
Beth,
My husband on Friday night went to get dog food and came home with a bottle of nyquil because I was not feeling well. The next morning we got up to go to the winter carnival and cook hamburgers and hotdogs on our portlable smoker. I was still sick and could not go. My husband gave me a card with the saying from songs of solomon, and of course a bag of valentine m&m's. That is why he went out late the night before to get dog food, he needed a card. I love him so much. Like your story mine somewhat runs the same way. We fish sping, summer, and fall. When winter comes we ice fish. But I love him inspite of it all. God gave him to me as a partner and I will stand by his side fish and all.
Judy
Last night my husband surprised me with a little teddy bear sitting in a basket. It was really sweet.
You can imagine how guilty I felt when I got aggravated with him for calling me into the bedroom to rub his back when I was in the middle of reading emails on my computer only to find that little gift sitting under my pillow when he told me to move it out of the way so that I could get to his back better. I should have known he was up to something! I didn’t get my church boy either and he didn’t exactly get the kind of girl he wanted but I see God working! God Bless!
My husband and I will be married 10 years this year and I don't remember any fabulous Valentines Day. However, this year will likely be remembered because of our 2 1/2 year old son. When you mix a 2 1/2 year old boy who is as stubborn as a mule with a M&M's money bank/candy dispenser from spoiling grandparents, a Valentines party at preschool with unlimited cookies and candy, and a bag of Valentines and candy sent home from the above mentioned preschool party..you have a tantrum on your hands. Last night our son requirred an intervention to detox him from the sugar high and it was ugly. He refused to eat or drink anything for dinner and breakfast this morning as he only wanted his "letters and candy" and refused to eat any real food! He finally understood mommy was not going to give in that he finally ate his bagel at about 10am today! My husband and I could not help but laugh last night about this Valentines Day drama!
Blair
My Valentine and I celebrated our 19th wedding anniversary on Tuesday. We dated for 4+ years so today is our 24th Valentine together. I’m thankful for everyone and still am in love with my Valentine.
I think my first dating Valentine was roses delivered (which was really thrilling) and I’m sure we went out to dinner that night or weekend. Our first married Valentine we were on our honeymoon and what is better than that!
Happy day to all my siestas, J
PS those grandkids of yours are precious!
My funniest Valentine’s day was at a popular hole in the wall Italian restaurant just outside Fort Worth. We had reservations and were seated right away. We waited, and waited and waited. Thinking they were just busy but it was beginning to get irritating…finally the hostess came to our table and said “I’m sorry about the delay, but your waiter is in the parking lot crying, would you like some wine while you wait?” I never found out if he was crying because he was overwhelmed or his girlfriend broke up with him.
I think my sweetest Valentine memory is actually about my parents. My mom worked full time for most of my life and it turns out my dad always sent a huge bouquet of flowers to my mom on Valentines day. It wasn’t until I was in college and happened to go by my mom’s work place and saw the flowers that my dad had sent. My parents are from India and men aren’t very openly affectionate there. So… it was such a sweet thing to see my dad expressing affection so openly.
Hope everyone had a sweet day.
Sister Lynn
Valentines is not my favorite holiday but I do have many sweet memories of waking on valentine’s morning and having a sweet little gift from my mom next to my bed…we’ve been through some rough spells over the years but her displays of love for me on valentines day is one that I don’t want to forget…
Loved reading of your valentines and of your love for Keith…it is sweet and encouraging.
My most memorable would be 2 years ago when we welcomed our daughter, Elizabeth Jaye, into our lives. She was 2 weeks early, arrived in such a whirlwind (we weren’t at the hospital 3 hours before she was born), and has been a force to be reckoned with ever since.
After being told we had less than 5% chance to have children without medical intervention, she was our joyful, unexpected SURPRISE when our son (conceived without medical intervention) was a mere 11 months old. I could not ask for a better gift from my two main men – God and my husband – on this precious day. And now my husband kinda gets off the hook for this day – not that we were ever really big about this day.
He did outdo himself one year (our third V-day married) when he walked me down memory lane of our relationship through our apartment. Each “scene” represented a key moment for him in our relationship from the day we met, and he took the time to tell me all about why it was important to him. What a precious gift to allow me to see our years together through his eyes. I fell in love all over again that night.
Oh Beth I know what you mean about two messes being brought together. My sweet husband and I have been married 25 years and they have been the fastest 25 of my life. They have not all been wonderful. This is the third marriage for both of us and we both had our share of baggage. But the good Lord brought us together and through Him working in our lives we have been able to let go of most of that baggage and create a strong and loving marriage. Just when I think it can’t get any better the Lord does some more healing in one of us and things just get better.
My most memorable Valentines Day was about 8 or 9 years ago, when our marriage was floundering. I usually cook his favorite meal on Valentines because the restaurants here are just crazy on that night and we never seem to enjoy our meal. On this particular time I decided that I was going to make this the most romantic dinner that I have ever cooked for him. I bought a red tablecloth for the table and had red candles in the brass candle holders. I bought some artificial red roses and put them in a bud vase for the center piece. I have a full length mirror in the bathroom and I took red lipstick and wrote on it how much I loved him. I found the cd that the romantic mood music on it (it had never been opened) and put that on the stereo. When he came home from work I asked him to go take his shower and then we would eat. Going in the bathroom the first thing he saw was my message on the mirror. When he came out after his shower, I had the candles lit and the romantic music playing. When we sat down to eat dinner after we prayed I was so overcome with the emotion of the evening that I sat there and bawled like a baby.
After the evening was over I asked him what part of the evening touched him the most and he said it was what I had written on the bathroom mirror.
He is the best husband and he buys me presents all year long not just on the days that Hallmark says he should.
By the way I got a radial arm saw one year for Mothers Day. Since I am not the mother of his children it didn’t really bother me. Even if I was the mother of his children it probably wouldn’t have bothered me. LOL
Thank you Beth for all you do for the rest of us women.
By the way I love that picture of Jackson and Annabeth. Jackson looks so grown up.
Charlotte P.
Ridgecrest, CA
Thank you for you beautiful devotional…
I don’t really have any favorites…as none have ever really been all that memorable.
But today my dear daughter, who is 9, planned a wedding between two of her stuffed animals…2 pigs mind you. It was the most precious thing. I now have a favorite valentine memory!!
Thank you again.
Love and Blessings,
Michelle in VT
My favorite Valentine’s day memory is from 1996. My now husband and I had been dating for about 3 weeks. It was on a Wednesday. I hadn’t received a card, letter or flowers by the time church started. I was really hurt. Thought he had forgotten. Little did I know, he had spoken with my dad and had already asked for my hand in marriage. He drove me to a piece of property I had purchased several years earlier and sang me the song “keeper of the stars” and told me he wanted to start our life together here and asked me to be his wife. He had a ring hidden in a box of chocolate. He had picked out a ring all by himself. I still wear that ring 13 years later. We have had some very rough times – 5 miscarriages, job layoff, cancer. He has been through it all and loved me thru thick 🙂 and thin (mostly thick lol). God has truly blessed me.
I met my man in March and by the next Valentine’s Day we were newlyweds. We had been married two months and I had the worst sinus infection that I had ever had in my life. We were both so determined to have a romantic first Valentine’s Day, that neither one of us would admit that we just needed to reschedule for later. We went to a very nice and expensive dinner and I was so clogged up that I could hardly swallow my food!
When I look back, I can’t help but laugh at us! We we were so young and crazy, that we couldn’t see that the day was not what we were celebrating, but our love!
Today, we had great romantic plans that kept getting shifted to accomadate our teenage sons, the weather and a once in a lifetime event for them. I guess we have learned something in 18 years, because this time we just laughed and went with the flow…plus I had back up plans, just in case!
I am so thankful for a love that just keeps getting better!
Tracy
Ozark, MO
On Valentines Day 15 years ago my then boyfriend – now husband – gave me a lone scented silk rose along with a card. I thought the rose was a bit cheesy, but he’s not exactly the best gift giver known to man, so I thought it sweet all the same. Two weeks later he noticed the rose in a vase and commented on how fresh it still looked. I paused and looked at him and said, “You know it’s fake, right?”
Uh, no he didn’t. He was shocked. He had thought he was buying a real rose.
How I still love him so.
I had a wonderful Valentine’s day.
WHo could pass up a phrase like: ” Buy some swine for your Valentine”? THat’s my usual invitation for dinner on Valentine’s Day.
My husbands family is in farming and ranching here in Kansas.Their country church has a pancake and sausage feed every Valentine’s Day–and we’ve gone for MANY years..
Luckily, I like swine and I love my Valentine.