The Origin of Valentine's Day

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY

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For those who say Valentine's Day is simply a Hallmark Marketing Strategy:

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Saint Valentine's Day (commonly simply Valentine's Day)is an annual holiday held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions. The holiday is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Valentine and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496 AD. It is traditionally a day on which lovers express their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as "valentines"). The holiday first became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished. Ahhhh! doesn't that sound nice?

(All except the martyr part - that doesn't sounds very good at all!)

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Hallmark was founded in 1910!!! :)

Where has the time gone?

Eleanor Roosevelt - “One of the blessings of age is to learn not to part on a note of sharpness, to treasure the moments spent with those we love, and to make them whenever possible good to remember, for time is short.”

OK - So I picked an Eleanor Roosevelt quote that makes me sound like I'm 90!! I'm not. In fact, I'm not old at all! Just ask me. And even if I was 90, I wouldn't be old~~~I would be vintage!!! ANYWAY...........

As I look back on this photo of Beth at her wedding last Fall, I can appreciate the words spoken by Eleanor Roosevelt. How many little spats, or sometimes big spats, do we have with our children. There are times to correct, but in all times there must be love.

There have been so many treasures to be thankful for and so many new treasurers waiting to be discovered. I'm so grateful that one of those spats didn't lead to a distance that seems insurmountable.

There have been wonderful and inspiring times. Many more good times than there were turbulent times. It's great to look back at photos or talk about specific events. Isn't it refreshing when we do that? We never talk about the unhappy times. We always talk about the times when we were so silly that we couldn't stop laughing, or the crazy photos we took of each other. When Beth and I were pretending to be Dumb Blonde's at Disney World and smacked our heads together on accident. (Yes, we really did this!) We have a photo of every member of our family while they are sleeping! Believe me, none of us look very good when we're sleeping! Hmm! that reminds me, we haven't got a picture of our new son-in-law sleeping yet!!!

We've taken some crazy trips, where we had no idea where we were going. It was all about the journey and the fact that we were on the journey together. We've had a cooking and baking frenzies together. Paul and Beth have great times sitting in the tree deer hunting together. I'm so grateful that the list of good times is too long to list! Time is short for us to be here on the earth and sometimes the world will drag us away from what's most important in our lives. I think I need to get ready for some new adventures with those I love the most!

Motorcycle Mama!

Well, I've taken a new step in my life. I have progressed from a motorcycle rider (safely tucked behind Paul while he drives) to a motorcycle driver. That's right, you can just call me a Motorcycle Mama! Actually, please don't call me that ~~ I am far from a smooth driving, low waving Cool Rider.

It was easy to say, "Sure, Honey, I would love to have my own motorcycle" when I don't have one. It became a little bit scarey when I actually got one. Paul always knows how to get a deal and this was no exception. Actually, he traded something he had to get me the motorcycle. What a guy!

I have to admit it is one of the items on my "Bucket List". (I'll write more on that later) For those of you who don't know me very well, I am afraid of a lot of things. I over analyze things and can talk myself out of doing things easily. Paul is my Risk Factor, as well as my Soul Mate. We complete each other. When I'm afraid, he encourages me that I can do it. When he's doing something completely crazy, I talk him down from it. I'm convinced he is the reason my life is so exciting and I am the reason he's lived as long as he has!!

We have only riden a few times and each time I get a little bit better. (The gear thing still gives me fits.) I have my own Pink Camoflouge Doo Rag! I'm definitely moving up in the world! I may have to get some of those temporary tatoos!! I'm not going totally crazy! I want to be able to scrub it off!

I guess this is God's way of reinforcing that all of our life is to be an adventure. I've got a long way to go until I'm comfortable on the motorcycle, but with continued riding and the patience and encouragement of my husband, one day I'll get there.