My Cynical Valentine

My husband, John, while we were watching a Hallmark movie says, "Valentine's Day is just a fake holiday created by retailers to make more money" or something to that effect!  This said after I tell him how much I like this time of year.  I don't think he realizes how much I enjoy gifts...getting gifts, making gifts, giving gifts.  A while back, I read the book, The Five Love Languages, and discovered that I feel loved and appreciated when someone goes out of their way to give me a "gift."  And it doesn't have to be big or expensive.  It just has to say, "I thought of you."

A romantic at heart,
I love the idea of LOVE.
I love roses and hearts and red and diamonds and chocolate covered cherries and love stories...
this girl was made for Valentine's Day.

So, this year I decided to dress things up a bit.  I put up my little tree and am decorating it with mostly handmade ornaments.  It's adorable!  A friend of mine, Barb, and I went shopping yesterday and I found some vintage Valentine cards that I am making into ornaments.

Gordman's had some ornaments that were pretty inexpensive.  Love that store, they have some of the best house decor at great prices.

Thankful for the Music

We think we have found a church finally.  It'll be nice to get plugged back in, start meeting some people out in this area.  I loved the music.  Their band included a violinist, which just adds a beautiful touch.  It reminded me how much I love the sound of strings...maybe I'll dust off my violin.  I miss the days when all us girls were playing, when our home was constantly filled with music.  Ari has started playing Viola again and has joined an orchestra at school. I hope to see one of their concerts this Spring.

Joy Dare

39.  Cozy fireplaces.

40.  Flickering candle light.

 41-43.  Three Gifts found in Christ, Love, Sacrifice, Mercy

44.  Peppermint mochas.

45.  Sleeping kitty curled up in my lap.

46.  Sweet violin music.

 47.  Reminders of what once was.

48.  My camera.

49.  Afternoon with a friend.

50.  All the beautiful women in my life.

51.  Rainbows...saw one out the back window this morning!
And, no, this was not my view, though wish it were!  lol!

Heading Home

On the second leg of my little get-away, I went HOME.  You know, the place that no matter how long you're gone or how far away you are, it's always HOME.  I drove up from Kentucky to Ohio.  I took my time, even took a little side trip through some countryside.  I couldn't believe I saw two eagles.  The one was sitting in a field and as I slowed down, it flew up into the trees. 

 

 I spent a couple days at my in-laws.  Here I rested, watched the falling snow and the birds, enjoyed the company of my second mom.  Then I went to stay with mom.

We enjoyed just being together, antique shopping, going to lunch, and a movie with my sisters where we laughed until we cried.  We discovered a few new antique shops downtown where I bought a vintage camera.

We had dinner with a few of my aunts and cousins and I spent the day with my Aunt Bonnie where we talked photography for hours.  Her 4 year old granddaughter played model for us...what a cutie.  Spent the day with my newest nephew and fell in love, He's the sweetest little guy I know.

Before I knew it, it was time to head home, but I really was ready.  I'd been blessed by all the beautiful women in my life...loved on, listened to, hugged.  They filled up my empty cup and reminded me that I'm not alone even though I'm far away.  Thank you all for a great trip!

 

A Month for Love

Love...there are many descriptions of love.  But what better description can there be found in all the world than the following?  I hope that I can represent Love in such a way as this. 

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 

 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

  Love never fails. 

But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.  For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.  For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

                                              I Corinthians 13:4-13

Love,  

            Aimee

Kentucky Visit

Have you ever just needed to get away...away from your everyday life, escape from the stresses and worries?  That was me a few weeks ago.  I just needed time to rest, refresh, and reconnect.  John was supposed to head to England and I decided to spend some time visiting family.  Well, his trip got canceled but I still needed this time for myself.  My first stop was in Kentucky to see my Aunt Sharon who lives out in the country.

We shopped antique stores and peddler's malls, did lunches, spent time visiting with my cousins and talked about everything under the sun.  We talked about our kids and motherhood, our disappointments and joy, friendships lost and found.  We took a wonderful Sunday drive around the countryside in search of old barns.  I learned that Kentucky barns are different than other barns.  Built for drying tobacco, they are simple structures usually painted black in order to absorb the sun's heat and help in the drying process.

  

They live on a large plot of land and often have wild animals come through.  This trip we caught sight of some deer and coyotes.

Kentucky is also horse country with thoroughbred horses and grand stables.

They are just resting!

JOY

I've finished the book, One Thousand Gifts, and I've learned so much about...

truly living life to the fullest,

God's love for us,

our relationship with Him.

We can have joy in our life even when things seem impossible, even on days when it's hard to breathe, when pain, emotional or physical, suffocates us.  It's about living IN Christ, seeing God's face in everything, the good and the bad.  NOTHING happens that does not work for our good.  Give thanks in all things...isn't that what we are told to do?  Being thankful draws us closer to Him, to His heart.  In turn, we heal, by turning the bad into good, by seeing the good in the bad, by seeing the good.  That's why I pick up my camera, focus on the beauty around me.  I write it down, I capture it in pictures...all the good God has provided, all the blessings.  I'm counting the graces, one by one...a thousand gifts from our Maker.  Each a reminder of His love.  Gratitude is our JOY.  And isn't that what we all want, to live fully in Joy.





I've chosen the word JOY to be my word for the year...a reminder to see the good.


        You turned my wailing into dancing;
           you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with 
                  JOY.                           Psalm 30:11 NIV

 26.  Ice crystals sparkling in a field.

27.  Blue birds playing on river's edge.

28.  Gift made for newborn.

29.  To hear my daughter's voice, happy and excited.

30.  For the smallest of prayers answered.

31.  Softly falling snow sparkling in moon light.

32.  Sunny day drives.

 33.  Eagles spotted in a field, perched in trees.

34.  Baby boys who make you smile.

 35.  A hug that says I know, I understand.

36.  Baby giggles.

 37.  Time with my mom.

38.  Painted skies.