Valentine's Day at Our House

(Not at all as you would likely expect.)

Today was Everette's and my 25th Wedding Anniversary.  (We don't recommend getting married on Valentine's day.  We'd marry each other over again, but we wouldn't choose Valentine's Day to do it.  But that's beside the point.)

We spent yesterday together in Victoria, window-shopping, checking out new art supply stores, having lunch, taking in Tea-tasting at Silk Road, buying our family a tea set. ( Tea is our new education.  We never liked 'tea' until last month when we actually tried the Real McCoy, and now we are tea drinkers.  So it was a treat to spend more than an hour tasting and smelling and learning about tea yesterday. Then when we returned home we sipped and sampled tea with the children on the living room floor, sitting around flickering candles. )

Today we spent our actual anniversary here at home with our children.  A quiet, lazy day of togetherness.  Sharing, playing, creating, dancing, eating, working together.  A lovely family day.  And I gave my Valentine a surprise.

I must admit, I gave myself a bit of a surprise too.

After 25 years & 14 pregnancies (includes losses which still put weight on me!)

I'm up 14 pounds and still fit in the dress!  

I think that's pretty darn Good!!

 The satin needs a good ironing job, but this was impromptu so it didn't get done, and got shoved back in a sack in storage afterwards, so what would be the point.  Besides, I'm allergic to ironing!

To say that the children enjoyed seeing mommy in her wedding dress is to make an understatement.  Over and over again the younger girls pampered me, fixing my train, dancing around me, wishing they could be my Flower Girls.  They were so delighted.

Tonight we spent the evening trying to figure out our Jive steps for dance class.  And we got Layne and Mitchell learning some steps, too.  There was laughter, and some bouncing like bunnies instead of stepping like dancers, but it was all so enjoyable.

And then there was the cuddles with the children as we watched documentaries and a Tinker-bell movie.

We ended it with lighting sparklers on the back patio, sending light into the darkness.  I hope that our Love gives some light into the darkness.

Being together, its been an absolutely enjoyable Valentine's Day, and a great celebration of our commitment to One Another.  Here's to another 25 years.

Genetic Integrity

Mike Adams, The Health Ranger certainly comes up with some unique and thought provoking ideas which stimulate conversation and hopefully moves to action.

The article below is an incredible read, from my perspective. Some might take offense to it, but such is life.

I've heard it said many times "Offense is never Given. It's only Taken."



Women: Before getting pregnant, check out your man's diet

The Genopocalypse

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Exploration

"So many people say the "excitement" has left their marriage.  Well, exploration is one of the most exciting journeys known to humankind.  Most of the globe has been mapped, many times over - but that person who wears your ring?  There are still secrets yet unknown and yet to be explored on that side of the bed.
 Get busy."  

~Gary Thomas, author of 'Sacred Marriage'

As Is

Marla Taviano in "From Blushing Bride to Wedded Wife"

"You know those clothing items on the clearance rack that say "As Is"?  You buy them with the understanding that they are flawed, and you forfeit the right to return them for being defective.  So it goes with unconditional love and respect for your husband.  You go into marriage with the understanding that this man is flawed, yet you promise to love and respect him regardless."