Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I am seeing RED today as I have recently brought out all the red stuff I own in celebration of the day!

These doves were actually our wedding cake topper. I remember thinking that the bride and groom bit just wasn't my style-and that I wanted to have something I could keep (and enjoy) forever.

When I saw these lovebirds at a local shop (nothing to do with weddings), I fell in love and immediately bought them. They are always displayed in the house somewhere, but they always come out and perch in the center of everything come Valentine's Day and our Anniversary. Just another one of those wonderful symbols of our love and dedication to one another.

Just looking at them gives me 'happy thoughts'.

I am not like many women who, as I am reading, don't appreciate Valentine's Day for what it is worth. There are quite a few Cupid-grinches out there, so it seems! Now I am not a person who requires lots of finery. In fact, I would be QUITE pleased with just a slip of paper on this day (oh-but let me tell you~I would NEVER turn jewelry down if it ever came sparkling my way!), but I DO think that Valentine's Day certainly has a great significance.

We don't only remember Christ taking upon himself an earthly form and human nature on Christmas day, but rather, we profess this truth all throughout the year! In the same way, our attention and adoration lavishly poured forth on Valentine's Day does not mean that we ought not to show our love each and every OTHER day of the year. We ought not to become consumed by commercialism and meterialism during Christmas, nor should we become consumed with these things during Valentine's Day.

It is a day set aside for going that EXTRA step to show those whom you love how you feel. Nor does it mean that affections need to be showy or extravagent. We ought to be pleased with the simple things...we ought not demand diamonds! Often times, even those who receive diamonds would be MORE pleased with something that required consideration and thought. Because isn't the thought and love shown by the actions of a husband more coveted than a little box (no matter how pricey?)

I remember one year-before we were married Matt did something extraordinary. I recall it wasn't Valentine's Day, but it was a VERY special (ordinary) day. He had picked up the votive holders I was going to handpaint for our wedding favors. Three boxes of them! He somehow got them to my house and made a heart out of the them on my bed. Then he scattered about a gazillion little confetti squares he had made on the computer that said 'ILU' (I love you) EVERYWHERE. All I remember thinking is that he spent TIME and THOUGHT on it-he typed a bunch of letters, he meticulously cut out zillions of squares and then he thoughtfully organized them for the sole purpose of thrilling me. That was probably one of the most romantic things he has ever done for me-and there were no roses or diamonds involved at all!

I expect Matt to treat me to an extra heaping portion of love on Valentine's Day, just as I do him, but I am not high maintenance. I would be just thrilled to recieve a piece of paper! I always beg and plead for Matt to write me a love letter or poem. He used to do that often before we were married and even in our first years-and he is quite good at them. I never knew men could be...I know I certainly can't! :-)

Each Valentine's Day, my secret wish is for a slip of paper lovingly written and carefully thoughtout-written especially for me. Well, it wasn't so secret. I begged again this year. It has been SO LONG!

But this morning, there on the dining room table was a piece of paper, tucked under some beautiful red roses.

Of all the love letters he has written me, I know of only ONE that has survived the upheaval's we have had in our married years, and this is VERY sad for me. It is like a piece of his heart, of mine, has vanished-lost forever.

May it never be so. Now I have a blog, and NOW I have a way to store them where moth, nor fire (nor moving!) can destroy them, stealing them away from my memory.

A love note. To me. From Mattie. Valentine's Day 2008

My Life is Our Life

It is hard now to imagine life before you.
There were no colors, no glow.

Have stars always had their twinkle?
Has water always been wet?

That is how it is with us.
You are more than my wife.

You complete what God started.
What God has joined, no man can seperate.

You will always be my Valentine.

Love, Your husband.

I will tuck away the note, tucked among other treasures and will always prefer the handwritten one, seeing your handwriting and the little heart by your name. But it makes my heart happy that I will never lose it.