Valentines in Siestaville

Hey, Sweet Things!

Happy Valentine’s Day to all of you and, if you’ve got a romantic interest or a lifelong love, I hope he pays very special attention to you today. If he doesn’t, may he be stricken with a serious case of athlete’s foot before Tuesday morning. (I started to say chafing but then got scared it might mean something that I don’t.)Β  If you’re not in love, well, maybe you can at least have a laugh on Siestaville today. Keith and I watched one of the Rocky movies for the gillionth time a couple of days ago. They somehow have a hypnotic effect, don’t they? It’s like you really want to turn them off but you can’t. It’s like Rocky won’t win this time if he loses you. It was the one where Apollo Creed goads Rocky into a rematch but Adrian refuses to give him her blessing and thereby smothers the heart of a champion right out of him. Just when it looks as though things could not get worse, Adrian collapses at the pet store where she works and is rushed to the hospital where she gives birth to their first child (with more hair than me) and then falls promptly into unconsciousness.

Of course, Rocky refuses to leave her side and, in a particularly poignant moment, unfolds a piece of paper upon which he has crafted a poem. He leans over her and reads as only he can:

“Remember when we was on ice skates

And I thought you were supposed to be great

But I kept giving you lip

And you kept trying to slip

So I could catch you

That was our first date

And after that, every day was great

So now I want you to know

That wherever you go

Atlantic City or in the snow

Don’t worry about a thing

Cause as long as I got this ring

I’ll always be there to catch you.”

And in no time at all, she wakes up and tells him to whip that scoundrel Apollo Creed. And up thumps the heart of a lion and he sprints to the gym with the eye of a tiger.

A classic.

The Jones and the Fitzpatricks and I had lunch together today after church and Amanda told us that, when she picked Jackson up from Sunday School, she saw a little girl give him a side hug (I loved that part) and hand him a Valentine. A mother to the bone, she could hardly wait to get the Valentine to the car and see what this darling girl-child had penned to her son. I mean, what would a five year-old have to say? Amanda tore off the envelope and, lo and behold, the child had written her ABC’s. It made me impossibly happy.

OK, tell us some funny Valentine stories. If you don’t have one, tell us about the worst date you ever had (if it’s funny in hindsight) but don’t you even think about giving his whole name…unless you married him. That’s game.

I heart every single one of you.

PS. For you in the Houston area, I am so jazzed to have Travis and Angela Cottrell and a big part of our Living Proof Live band with us on Tuesday night at HFBC to lead worship. Trav and Ang are coming in a day early and we’re having Valentine’s dinner together. Can’t wait to lay eyes on them. We’ll see some of you Tuesday night!

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453 Responses to “Valentines in Siestaville”

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  1. 251
    Sally Denton says:

    The worst date I ever had was to a boy that I did not want to go out with but being the “younger sister” to a very motherly older sister who told me that I did not need to hurt his feelings (he was her age, of course,) I dutifully obeyed. When we were at dinner he sat on the same side of the booth with me and I was so embarrassed that I thought I was gently nudging him out to tell him to sit across from me but I nudged him too hard and he fell on the floor next to the booth (oops). After dinner one of his friend had teased us and shaving creamed his new truck and in his vanity, we had take time to go wash the truck during the date. Needless to say, we did not go out again.

  2. 252
    Nancy in GA says:

    First date was a blind dinner date with two other couples. About 10 pm, we visited the local chicken processing plant–you guessed it–from feathers to ice!! We’ve been married almost 26 years πŸ˜‰

  3. 253
    Patti Harris says:

    I usually give my husband an really romantic card telling him all his good qualities. As I was looking a card caught my eye, it had two cocker spaniels that looked alike except one was wearing a tie and the other was in pearls. The card read “They say when a couple has been together long enough they tend to look alike, the inside says “Thank goodness both of us married someone good looking”. That’s the card my husband got for Valentine’s Day this year. My gift from him was a camo snuggie because I go in the woods and hunt with him and when it’s cold I can’t stay long, so he got me that so I can last out there. Hope everyone has had a great Valentine’s Day.

  4. 254
    Donna says:

    This is not my story, but my parents. My parents are in their 70’s and were on a road trip from Colorado to Arizona. The got off the highway in Albuqurque to look for a place to eat lunch. They make this trip a lot and they always stop at the same place. My dad said he wanted to go somewhere different. They saw a nice restaurant with a mountain scene on the sign called twin peaks. After they had been seated a few minutes and the waitress had taken their drink order, mom mom wondered aloud why all the wait staff was dressed up in costume…they all seemed to be wearing tight cut off shirts and skimpy shorts…then it hit them….TWIN PEAKS!!! It was NM version of Hooters! Not every good Christian wife takes her hubby to a Hooters for a special lunch!!

    • 254.1
      glenwood says:

      I was on vacation. It was 4th of July. I had a younger cousin with me. We had been to a musuem and were walking and looking for a place to eat. Even McDonald’s was locked. The first place we found open was Hooters. My cousin was 10 and lived in the beach so she did not notice their dress. They were really nice and made us to-go boxes. We sat on the steps and watched the air show over the harbor.

  5. 255
    Cindy R. says:

    My husband comes home from school (he’s a teacher), with a single rose and the valentine card he has gotten me every year since 1991. He gives it to me every year and then sneaks it back and writes in it again for the next year. It’s now evolved into 2 cards; one tucked inside the other.He’s quite the poet I might add. Anyway, after getting home today, he kind of disappeared as I was starting dinner and doing kid stuff. All of a sudden I get a text from him. He’s in the restroom. It says, “can you please bring me another roll of toilet paper!” I texted back, “now that’s true love”. Gotta love technology.

  6. 256

    I told God I would like to be married in 2 yrs…:) LOL…haven’t we all done that?

    No really, I think its about what He is doing inside ME right now, and I guess someone can’t exactly come along while I am in the process of being molded…its an uneasy place to be, relying on faith alone…but everyday its really about taking one more step…into His Will:)

    Whatever it looks like.

    xoxo
    ang

    • 256.1
      Sarah S. says:

      Oh, sweet ang — God had to wrestle me out of a nasty mood today, and my Valentine is only needing to live in another town, but my heart turned to precious women like you, wondering if God has a Valentine out there for you. I love that you are seeking God’s heart first as your first love. That is where you will find the purest love you will ever know. So thankful for a heart like yours!

      • Thank you for such sweet words!
        Believe me, it is NOT easy, especially being
        30…but after many experiences, I just realize
        that regardless what the world says…it’s not about
        me, and how I have handled relationships
        has been anything far from humble.
        There is a lot of junk from the past God has to sift
        through inside me…but I know if I let Him that
        He will work inside of me…and it will be about
        His timing and His plan…but believe me, you
        wouldn’t waste a prayer on me πŸ™‚
        Your words made my day πŸ™‚
        My SSMT verses speak of what He’s doing….
        It is great:) Blessings!!!

    • 256.2
      Sherrie says:

      ang

      I understand exactly where you are as I am finally (I’m 51) in a place where I am beginning to think I would like a man in my life. NO Valentine for me but since I was 9 I said I would NEVER marry.My motto was God will have to strike me with lightening if He wants me to get married. Now at I am waiting to see what God brings. My relationship with Him gets stronger every day!But I am wondering if I need to put that “pair of mans pants on the end of my bed and pray every night for God to fill them”. He may never fill them and I will just continue walking with my Lord as the “man in my life”.

  7. 257
    Deanna says:

    For some reason I can’t find verse 4. Did I miss it or am I ahead of myself?

  8. 258
    Sabrina says:

    My 6 year old son today came home from school with a cd. On top of the cd it said “10 reasons why I love you” by “my son’s name”. I had warm and fuzzy feelings. How cute he made a cd about me (I confess that is exactly what I thought!) Then I immediately thought… well it may be a declaration of love for his father (which was a tad less ideal, but still good since he does have a great father. So, I put the cd on …and there for all to hear is a declaration of love from my son to his stuffed animal: BUNNY. I still don’t know if this is a reflection of our parenting skills (what are we doing with our child??) or pure love.

  9. 259
    Suzanne says:

    While Wes and I were dating, he sent me red roses to my nurses’ station to mark our 6 month anniversary. They were beautiful and such a large arrangement. One nurse said, “I think there has to be more than a dozen!” So, we counted…there were 13! They all wanted to know why. I didn’t know why, so I paged Wes (he lived in Augusta, GA and I lived in Atlanta). He called back later and I didn’t know how to ask him because I thought I probably should have known why he sent an extra!! After several conversations and quite a bit of confusion, I asked him if he knew he sent me 13 roses. He said, “No, I guess someone at the florist can’t count or just thought a Baker’s Dozen would be great!” Now, marriage and 22 years later, we are still counting the roses (even those sent to others!).

  10. 260
    Kelli says:

    I don’t have any tragic Valentine’s stories cuz I really have never given the holiday much thought until I married.

    Anyway – Funny Story instead. I volunteer in my daughter’s 2nd grade class one day each week. Needless to say we have been working like mad on Valentine’s Day poems, lists, and the such. One of the projects was a piece of decorated paper in which the kids were to write a letter to their parents telling them what they loved about them. One little boy wrote line after line of all the great things he and his dad do together and how much his dad means to him. On the last line of his paper he wrote a single sentence for his mother. It said, “I love my mom cuz she cleans the toilet.” And he was done! Both the teacher and I howled with laughter when the kids went to recess. When said little boy came back in from recess, he and I spent some time thinking of a few other reasons he loved his mommmy to add to the clean toilet thought. (We didn’t not erase the clean toilet comment cuz it was too cute!) This class of kids definately makes you stop and remember the show Kids Say the Darnest Things.

    Happy Valentime’s Day (as Junie B. Jones would say!)
    Blessings,
    Kelli in Colorado

  11. 261
    Lindsee says:

    Fortunately, I’ve never had a “worst date” since I’ve never had a date. But I have to say that today topped any Valentine’s day I’ve ever had. I went and saw the Justin Bieber movie with one of my sweet friends, and low and behold, not only are we way to old to be watching a movie about a 16 year old, we were the ONLY ONES in the entire theater. We laughed so hard, but LOVED it and had a blast!

    Hoping to be at Bible study tomorrow night! I’ve missed it!

  12. 262
    Sparki2003 says:

    Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone !

    Well, I do not have any “stories” of my own to tell, but, I will tell Y’all what happened to my sister, Julie, 26 Valentine’s Day’s ago. He (Steve) took her out to dinner, then at the end of their meal, the waitress brought out some champagne (sp ?) for them. (However, Steve had asked the waitress to do something fun, yet unusual, before Julie knew about anything.) So, when he gave a “toast” to their love and friendship, glasses clinked, but my sister looked into her glass, as she saw something quite “sparkly” in it. It was an engagement ring ! And, to make a long story short, Steve and Julie have been happily married for 25-1/2 years !!! πŸ™‚

    It seems hard to believe that that many years have gone by already; except for the fact that their dear son is now 24, and their dear daughter is 21 years old … But, it sure makes me “feel old” … Ya know what I mean ???

    In Christ’s Most Awesome Love,

    Jennifer O.
    Janesville, Wisconsin

  13. 263
    Stephanie says:

    This date has been forever etched into my memory (10 years already)and fills me with laughter. During high school, I got asked out by a football player. He wanted to take me out to eat after one of his practices. We loaded up and went to McDonald’s (which seems to be a common place for these stories) Anyway, did I mention that he wanted to go right after his football practice? He was wearing a very thin tank top (called wife-beaters, you usually see them worn on COPS by the guys who are being arrested) okay so here’s the guy, the tank top, and we are in McDonald’s right after his practice. We ordered our food and my date notices that he only received one hamburger patty when it was supposed to come with two. He gets in line to get his burger fixed. I am sitting down, have my hamburger in both hands getting ready to take a bite, when I look over and see him sniffing his ARMPIT. In the middle of McDonald’s. In line. And it wasnt a discreet sniffing either. This was tank top, arm raised high, nose leaning to the side. For at least 10 seconds.
    We made eye contact briefly and I wanted to crawl under the table.

  14. 264
    Sarah S. says:

    My Valentine and I are currently having to live apart while he works in another city and the kids and I wait here (200 miles away) for the house to sell. I do get to see him on weekends, but I wanted to mail him a goodie box so he would have something on Valentine’s Day.

    Of course, my week got away from me and the last possible day that I could get it out the door was last Thursday, and I woke up with a migraine. After some meds and a little rest I started to feel better. I quickly fixed up the goodies to put in the box to mail. I was running out of time — my daughter had forgotten her lunch and I needed to run it up to her school — so I tossed the pen and card in the box and was going to fill them out before I mailed them.

    OF COURSE after I returned home from delivering the lunch and mailing the goodies, I realized I never filled out the card — or rescued the little Papermate pen. So, my precious Valentine opened a box full of his favorite candies, a new CD, a framed pic of the 2 of us for his new office… and a blank card and a pen. I guess so he could fill out his own card. Bless my soul. He knows me well enough to send me a text saying, “Having a rough day when you mailed my package? ;-)” You betcha!

    I have laughed over the story — one friend told me to tell him that I simply couldn’t come up with the words to tell him what he means to me! πŸ™‚

  15. 265
    BeckyB says:

    For our first Valentine’s Day, my husband gave me a down vest – from the Goodwill. It was light blue with dark stains all over it.
    He honestly thought I would love it because it was so full of down.
    I cried.
    He has never done THAT again. Bless his heart.

  16. 266
    Jolee says:

    Okay, so can I just say that I heart you too???!??!! I feel like we are old friends. If I ever meet you, will you promise to not give me “the” look, as in “who is that psychotic woman and why is she acting all giddy in my direction?” I’ll behave myself (my promise to you LOL).

    Hope you had a fabulous Valentine’s Day. My children tattled on my husband (who likes to _act_ like a stick in the mud, but I do know it’s an act), when they went with him yesterday after church to pick up some groceries….Apparently, this was a cover story, as he also came home with lush flowers and chocolate. πŸ™‚ They said in his looking he said, “THESE are going to MAKE Mama’s day.” …. And he was right. πŸ™‚

  17. 267
    ValerieGail says:

    For a first date this guy invited me over to his house cause he wanted to cook for me. First off he was a bachelor for about 14 years (having been married young for about a year). His house was a disaster he had to clear a spot for me to sit on his couch. His best friend was there because he had broke up earlier in the day with his girlfriend. Within the first 15 minutes of being there his ex-wife pulls up in the driveway. Half an hour later I am ready to leave. Right then he came in apologized and our date started. I had already decided I was never going to see this guy again. Well 18 years later you guessed it we’re still together. Why I ever went out with him again I’ll never know. lol But one thing I know I would’ve missed out on someone that really and truely loves me. So glad God knew what I needed when I didn’t know.

  18. 268
    Paula says:

    I was considered an “older”single in my church. I was only 26! Most of the “kind-hearted” long married couples in our small church wanted to see all of us “lonely” singles get married. One lady (a half of one such couple) encouraged me to go out with a single guy from our church. “Johnny” was a late 30-something single who lived with his mother and sported bushy sideburns (this was de riguer for his Civil War reenactment hobby. He took me to lunch at a very nice steakhouse (he insisted on ordering for me), the steakhouse was about 50 miles from where I lived. He then asked if he could show me some famous covered bridges in a neighboring county. We visited about 5 of these and then I begged to go home. We were entering the 6th hour of this first date. He drove home not by the quicker modern highway but along the old rail route because he was so sure I would be interested. We are getting close to my home and he swings into a ice cream shop because he is sure I am a little hungry since it has been so long since lunch. I tell him I really need to get home so he goes in and orders some “to go”. I eat it in two bites and start to walk home from there. I let him drive me and as we turn into my street my relief turns to panic when I realize that my roomate is not home and did not switch my keys to my “date purse”. I jump out of the car and say “she is home, someone is using her car” and race around the back of the house where I sat on the back step for an hour and waited for my roomate. I never was alone in his presence again! What to take from this cautionary tale: Never act too interested in history to a guy with bushy sideburns. Remember when we did not have cell phones? My husband also knew this guy and can not believe that I went out with him. I thought I was “special” but my husband later told me that this was the only date agenda that “Johnny” had. My husband loves this story and always teases me about going to look at some covered bridges.

  19. 269

    Denise
    Albuquerque, NM
    My husband of almost 15 3/4 years brought me a dozen long-stemmed crimson red roses on Friday night when he got off from work at 10 p.m. We went to Red Lobster yesterday after church for an extra treat (it’s one of the safe places I can eat). He is very loving and attentive and I am blessed to share his life and ministry and he mine. Hallelujah to the Lamb!

  20. 270
    SueC says:

    It was 40 years ago when I was a senior in high school that a new guy came into our high school. I was recovering from a breakup with my longtime boyfriend and accepted a date even though the guy was a little different and was quite egotistical. By the end of the date I had decided that would be our only date but let him kiss me goodnight, he got a little too enthusiastic for a first date kiss which just reconfirmed that this was a last date. Much to my embarassment a few weeks later he and I both came down with mononeucliosis so all my friends pretty much knew we had kissed on our date. I was really mortified.

  21. 271
    Beverly says:

    I have been reading about ways to improve your marriage. After seeing a product advertised on tv that was designed to spice things up (lol), I got up my courage and went to Walgreens and made a rather daring purchase- daring for conservative me! I put it in a gift bag and filled the bag with candy & a love note and tied it up with a red bow. Last night I placed it on his desk along with a card so he would find it before going to work. As usual, he woke me at 5 a.m. to kiss me goodbye. We wished each other a Happy V Day and I asked if he found his present. He said he had but didn’t say much and I thought maybe he wasn’t amused by it. When I got up at 7 I went in and saw the card on the desk but the bag was no where to be found. An hour later he called to say he had taken the bag of candy with him to share with the guys at work! I almost choked on my coffee! No, thankfully he opened it while driving to work and while digging for a piece of candy he found the special package. I would have been in the doghouse for a long time if he had shared that bag with the guys!

  22. 272
    Sherrie says:

    In college on my first day with Jimmy we were at the BSU and were going to go to dinner and a movie. So all of our friends were watching and commenting giving us a hard time. We walked out got into the car he was the perfect gentleman and opened and shut the door for me. We made a left turn out of the parking lot and there was a traffic light in about 50 yards. It was RED we STOPPED! It turn green and he turned left and there was a horrible noise. πŸ™ We couldn’t see anything but it was obvious we hit something. Turned out the truck which was the last vehicle to go through the green light in the cross traffic had a black trailer behind it with NO lights! Of course all of our friends heard the crash and came running out to see what happened. Then they realized it was us in the accident. Not only was that a horrible beginning to a dating relationship…those friends NEVER let us live it down. So we postponed the date as we were both quite shaken physically and mentally! The next night we went to dinner and to see “Song of the South” it was one of the best dates I’ve ever had! Not bad the worst one night and the best the following night πŸ™‚

  23. 273
    Deborah says:

    The first time I ate at a restaurant with my future husband it was very late at night. We were students and he needed a meal; I just went along to be with him. Our waitress was very conversational and I was impressed by the way my date was respectful to her. When we got to the register to pay for our meal, the same waitress was on duty and began to tell us that she was suffering from a weepy eye. It just wouldn’t stop oozing and itching. She added details that had me thinking of the health inspector. My date looked at me very calmly and I could see he was thinking exactly what I was thinking. While he paid the bill he continued to listen and express his concern for her ailment. The dear woman would never have known how horrified he was to know he had just eaten roast beef that she had touched. We laughed about it long afterwards when we knew each other better, but that night I knew he was a very special man.

  24. 274
    Carrie says:

    Well, I like flowers, but alas, my thumb is not green and I can’t seem to keep them alive long enough to enjoy them. So, for our first Valentine’s Day my husband (boyfriend at the time) also knew that I couldn’t eat chocolate (isn’t that terrible!!! It was a lactose thing at that time. I’m TOTALLY making up for it now though!) but loved the bagels from a great little shop by our university (Wilfrid Laurier in Waterloo, ON Canada). So, with a lovely and hilarious personalized/computerized card from Hallmark (do you remember those?) he gave me a bakers dozen, brown bag and all, sealed with a kiss. I loved them and I LOVE him! So good to have a man who knows you that well!

  25. 275
    janet says:

    Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10 NIV

  26. 276
    sheila says:

    Psalm 27 4 One thing I ask from the LORD,
    this only do I seek:
    that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
    all the days of my life,
    to gaze on the beauty of the LORD
    and to seek him in his temple.

  27. 277
    Pam says:

    Pam, Tyler, TX: “For although we are walking in the flesh, we do not wage war in a fleshly way, since the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but are powerful through God for the demolition of strongholds. We demolish arguments and every high-minded thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” II Cor. 10:3-5 (HCSB)

  28. 278
    Cathy says:

    Cathy, Mason, OH
    Hebrews 11:1 (NLT)
    Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; things we cannot see.

  29. 279
    Nellie says:

    Rev.17:14 “They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and Kings of kings-and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.” NIV

  30. 280
    Pam Houston says:

    Today was my 40th Valentine Day with my man. We had a blast! First of all, I had gotten him a beautiful card and had it ready when he got up. My man makes me breakfast every morining. Yes he does! It’s always the same, but I don’t care. Eggs, over easy and 1 slice of crispy bacon for me. When he spied his card, he blushed and said, “I’m embarrassed, I forgot!” I told him, “Don’t worry honey, remember last year I worked for my friend who is in merchandizing, and she allowed me to retrieve Valentines headed for the garbage bin. I mean alot of them. You can go through my box and find a special card for me.” And he did. It was a friendship Valentine, especially for a friend. I thought about that and it made me impossibly happy. That’s because we’ve had such a passionate relationship all these years, and it would swing from love to hate on a regular basis…think “intimate enemy”. That’s where love at first sight gets you. Praise God though, we did commit at the altar of God “for better or worse” and we’ve been thoroughly tested on that part for lo these 40 years. And we’ve learned some things. We are beginning to like each other. Finally. The only gift I asked of him was to take all our family out for a wonderful and special dinner. He said: “That’s going to cost alot!” I said, “Yes it is, but that’s what I want. Remember last year you bought me the beautiful “Journey” white sapphire pendant, and I love it, and I don’t need any more jewelery.” Yesterday, we took balloon bouquets and valentines and white and pink chocolate curls and raspberry cupcakes festooned with ribbons and hearts to our Grands, but soccer practice foiled our plans for dinner. So dinner out is set for this Friday night for all 8 of us. My Valentine, my friend, my lover gave me what my heart desired. That means I am beloved. Everyone will order just what they want, appetizers and desserts even. No scrimping this time. On top of that, after suffering from helacious shingles for 23 days and getting very little sleep, I got the best gift of all from Jesus. Complete deliverance yesterday from pain. For the first day! I’m climbing out of the woods, Jesus has lifted me out of the pit. Dancing a dance of deliverance. Glory!

  31. 281
    Susie says:

    Susie, NC
    Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not se. Hebrews 11:1

  32. 282
    Dawn says:

    Dawn, Orland Park, IL “I will praise the LORD at ALL times. I will constantly speak His praises. I will boast only in the LORD; let all who are helpless take heart. Come, let us tell of the LORD’S greatness; let us exalt His name together.” Psalm 34:1-3 (NLT)

  33. 283
    susan says:

    my husband left me at home one valentine’s day at about 11 a.m. with a 2 and 4 year old. he returned at about 7 p.m., having bought himself a new car. happy valentine’s day to me! one year we went to the McDonald’s drive thru for v-day…of course, he’ll say, it was on Maui…another of the fun stories we remember each year on Feb. 14.

  34. 284
    Kristi says:

    Well, my husband and I usually do special things for Valentine’s Day and this year was no exception. Dinner, dessert, cards, kisses. He’s always very sweet. But this year, one thing really got my eyes misty.

    Just the day before Valentine’s Day, as I was talking to some friends after church and my husband was giving me “the signal” that he was really ready to go home and I was ignoring him as I always do (and this is the game we play every Sunday after church! Even my friends all know his “signals!”), I got especially frustrated with him and soooo wanted to let him know just how frustrated I was. But I held my tongue. (Not willingly, it seems.) On the short ride home, I’m going over in my mind everything I’d like to say outloud… One of them being, “Gee, I’m sorry that you have such a hard time with the fact that other people actually like me.” But, I don’t like to start fights, so I didn’t say it outloud and the day went on as usual. And no, we weren’t angry or anything.

    Well! Then last night just before we dove into our new recipe for stuffed flounder, my husband said grace as he always does. But his words caught me off guard. He thanked God for me, for the blessing that I’ve been in his life, and then he thanked God for the blessing I am in other people’s lives as well. And then God whispered into my heart, “See? He does know you!”

    When he said Amen, I could only look at him. My throat was blocked with a huge lump and my eyes were tearing up. And my heart was overwhelmed with the gracious gift of love that my Heavenly Father has bestowed on me.

  35. 285
    Catherine Morningstar says:

    I’ll tell you about my first (and second) love. I was in fifth grade and fell in love with Jimmy Johnson. (I can tell you his name because there are a million). I sent him the letter that said “I love you. Do you love me? Mark the box, yes or no.” He marked YES! That’s not the end of the story. He lived across the street from me and I did not live in a Christian home. I didn’t know who Jesus was. Jimmy’s mother invited me to church. Of course, being in love with Jimmy, I’d have gone to the moon, if she’d asked. I started to learn about this man named Jesus Christ and I couldn’t get enough of Sunday School. Soon, I forgot all about Jimmy and wanted to know everything there was to know about this Jesus guy. I have been in love with Jesus since. I moved away and Jimmy moved when we were in sixth grade. His mother has no idea the impact she had in my life, just because she asked me to church. Someday, in Heaven, after I meet Jesus, I’ll see Mrs. Johnson and thank her for inviting me.

  36. 286
    Becky Kiser says:

    Becky Kiser
    Houston, TX
    “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore, CHOOSE LIFE, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying His voice and holding fast to him…”
    Deuteronomy 30:19-20a (ESV)

  37. 287
    Shelley says:

    Shelley, Friendswood, TX: “For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.” Psalm 33:4 NIV

  38. 288
    HarborMom says:

    These are so fun to read. Read the blog post to my man and just about brought him to tears. A Rocky post and poem for Valentine’s Day? Well, it just doesn’t get any better than that!

  39. 289
    Pamela says:

    Pamela, Lexington SC,
    James 3:17 NLT “But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.”

  40. 290
    Kristi says:

    One day this will be funny, but NOT TODAY! I discovered lice on my daughters head on Sunday. Today, I treated her with a vinegar and mayo mix on her head for TWO HOURS, washed bedding, blankets, vacuumed couches, went to the grocery store MULTIPLE TIMES to get more things to treat it, almost forgot about a Dr. appt, I had. Went to that, picked up son from school, had a friend check MY HEAD, found out YES I have lice! Couldnt go out with my man so he brought home pizza, chocolate and heart shaped cookies. We ate after I did the vinegar/mayo treatment on my head and my oldest daughters head AND buzzed my sons head! I’m gonna cry now! Bye!

    Loves,
    Kristi in Oregon

  41. 291
    Susan says:

    Susan, Buena Vista, GA So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. John 13:34-35. NLT.

  42. 292
    Katie says:

    Well Beth, my boyfriend did nothing this year. So as you said; may he stricken with a serious case of athlete’s foot today! It’s a good thing I don’t put all my hope in him. I sang my love song to my savior yesterday. It is a song called “You Are” by Jason Castro. I love the line that says: “I will never move on from You.” As someone who has had to move on a lot, this means so much to me.

  43. 293
    sammi says:

    The worst date i ever had was my first.the only reason why it was was bad because my mom was there. it was my first real date and i was 16 he was 19..the only reason why mom was even there was because neather me nore my date had a drivers licence.it was around Easter time and we went to the mall..mom made us get a pic with the easter bunny..so imbarrising…

  44. 294

    My oldest son, nearly 22, came over to join me, the hubs, my mom and my other 2 sons ages 4 and 6 – in making homemade Valentines. My oldest made a sarcastically sweet sappy Valentine that really made no sense (other than to me) and it was decorated over the top. While my sweet 6 year old LOVES to give out Valentines, he took THAT one to a little boy up the street. When I realized this I nearly died. There is no telling what that family is thinking of us right now. Guh-reat! I’m going to have to go explain that we are not bonkers and that it was a mistake.

  45. 295
    Terri, Brentwood says:

    Romans 4: 17-18 NKJ Abraham…in the presence of Him who believed – God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations according to what was spoken.

  46. 296
    Wendy Voehl says:

    Valentine’s Day has never been the same since I gave birth to our first-born on Valentine’s Day 15 years ago! Feb. 14th is all about our love for our precious daughter Autumn Faith! She is as beautiful inside and out as the sound of her name! Praise the Lord that He has blessed her with a deep Faith in Him — she chose a Confirmation verse with the word “faith” in it to remind her why she was given that name. It is Colossians 2:6-7 (NIV): “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the FAITH as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” Don’t you just feel like God’s encouragement in those words just pours over you? I dearly love those words of God! And I dearly love my best Valentine’s Day gift ever, our SWEET Autumn Faith!
    (Eden Prairie, MN)

  47. 297

    Happy Valentine’s Day to Living Proof, ya’ll are extravagantly (hoped i spelled that right!) loved by the KING of KINGS!:):) Doubles smiles for emphasis. Um, I’m sorry but I don’t think I have any funny valentine’s day stories. This might qualify: I bought my man a card for this valentine’s day, and my baby girl and I met him for lunch yesterday at P.F. Changs. My card plays music, and it is not just any music, it’s loud, obnoxious 70’s love music:) I thought it was appropriate to express my love to my man:) I told him my one-year-old baby girl helped me pick it out:) He said he loves his two corn ball women:)

  48. 298
    Shea says:

    Yesterday I have to admit I was scrambling a bit in getting a gift for my wonderful husband. He was in the office at the church and I was working from home and trying to coordinate other projects with people coming in and out all day. After everyone left my house I jumped in my car at the last minute and went to Walgreens to pick out a card and to hopefully land a special treasure there at Walgreens…I mean you never know. As I am looking frantically to find a card (at this point there were only three left, but I couldn’t decide)I hear this voice behind me “what are you doing here”? It’s my husband. I said “probably the same reason you’re here”! So, after we had a really good laugh we just decided to pick them out right there and read them to one another and put them back. We did walk out with a a box of chocolates to share and laughed all the way to our cars.

  49. 299
    Kasey from Texas says:

    You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, His generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus. (The Message)

  50. 300
    Trisha says:

    My husband and I were already married on our first Valentine’s together, and had only days before moved to a new town for a new ministry. He’s an extrovert, I’m an introvert. He asked some other ministers in town what would be special and they were more than happy to help. He picked me up and told me we were going to eat with 3 other minister couples, none of whom I had ever met…at a quaint antique room…which was a musty buffet with bent forks and melamine-ware and red plastic cups. The food was awful. I suffered through small talk with these people who were all dear friends to each other, and then a (past-their-prime) barbershop quartet arrived to serenade us. They handed me a rose and a card. I opened it up and read, “Happy Valentines Day, sweetheart! Love, Burt.” My husband’s name is Ben. They had misread his fax. By the time we got home I was fuming and he was completely confused. Why would I not feel loved? We’ve learned a lot and laughed a lot since then. And now I cook a romantic candelight dinner at home for Valentine’s. And call my husband Burt–just for the day.

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