The Great Valentine…

Over the year's I have been blessed with many great Valentine's Days. As a child, my mom would always have the breakfast table decorated with heart napkins and plates. We would have cards and small gifts on our plates. I remember one year my dad gave my mom and me gold love charms for our necklaces. It was always a special day as a child. When I met Pete, Valentine's Day took on a different meaning. He has been a wonderful Valentine over the past 13 years and surprised me with many sweet, touching and special gifts. But last year, Sarah, who was four at the time, gave me my greatest Valentine yet.

We were driving to school. Sarah was excited about her class party and the little valentine's she had made for her teachers. From her car seat she said, "Mommy, you don't have to be sad that Valentine's Day is over tomorrow." This gave me a chuckle, since I don't really care that much about Valentine's Day. But I played along, "Oh good,why is that honey?" "Well Mommy," she was very serious now, "Jesus loves you soooooo much, He wants to be your Valentine everyday."

With that, I did what any self respecting mom would do, I started to cry and nearly crashed the mini van. Oh the faith of a child. It blows me away. I had spent 32 years of my life celebrating Valentine's Day, and never once correlated the day to the One who loved me so much He laid down His life for me. It is so true. He wants to be our Valentine everyday. His life is our amazing gift.

"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. ³⁹ No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39

I don't think I'll ever look at Valentine's Day the same. Thank you my sweet Sarah. Happy Valentine's Day!

February’s drawing – forcing a little spring …

Well here we are at February 12^th and I haven't announced February's drawing yet. Shame! I have had it picked out for a while, but I am having technical difficulties with my camera – okay, I admit it, I lost my camera – anyways, the drawing is for …. drumroll please ….. a paperwhite flower kit including bulbs and a pot . I will get up a picture of the real thing ASAP. Since we are going to have six more weeks of winter, I think it is time to force along some spring, or at least some spring flowers. Planting (or forcing) bulbs indoors is one of my favorite winter things. There is just something so magical about watching the green shoot emerge and grow over into a beautiful flower in the course of a couple short weeks. I love to garden outside during the summer, but I don't think I ever really see the growth of those flowers as much as I do a bulb sitting on my kitchen table. Especially this time of year, when the winter blues are likely to strike, there is nothing better to me than seeing a pot of bulbs growing in our house. If you would like some flowers for Easter, plant paperwhites this week – they take about 6 weeks to bloom.

What does your family do to keep away the winter blues? I would love to hear your ideas. I love to read your comments so keep them coming. Each time you leave a comment in the month of February, you will be entered in the drawing. I will announce the winner on March 1^st. Good Luck