So it’s Valentine’s Day again, and while I would like to say I go all out on Valentine’s Day, I usually do not. Not only that, but I am also not a gift buyer for this day, and much of it specifically has to do with how commercialized every single possible holiday day has become. There is no man alive in this country that has an excuse for forgetting this holiday, or any holiday, at this point, we have been bombarded since New Year’s that this day was coming. I hate force buying something that isn’t really asked for in the first place, and is usually something over-manufactured for cheap pennies overseas (made in China).
So if you take away the commercialization of Valentine’s Day, where did the day come from and why do we celebrate it? As is now standard in our post-mondern society, we have taken a day once commemorating a specific day on the Christian calendar and turned it into cheap plastic toys for lack of a better phrase.
Started in A.D. 496 by Pope Gelasius I (and then later deleted from the Roman calendar of saints in 1969 by Pope Paul VI), it was originally placed on the calendar on February 14th to “celebrate” the martyrdom of Saint Valentine (or Valentinus in Latin) the Patron of Love, which was actually around 14 different martyrs, not one specific person or saint. The total number of martyred saints is not completely known, and the reasons for their deaths range as well. First written about in Nuremberg, Saint Valentine supposedly was caught marrying Christian couples who were being persecuted by under Emperor Claudius in Rome (which was a crime). He was then imprisoned, where he also gained almost 50 converts to Christianity before he was executed.
So there you have it. Nothing to do with a box of chocolates, stuffed animals from Walmart, or pajamas from TV mail order.
Some may call it cheap, but I will make a public “Happy Valentine’s Day” wish to the true love of my life, Deborah. I hope I can live out the remainder of our days together as the husband you expect me to be, always ready to show you the love you deserve. Even though I didn’t buy you a box of chocolates today, I still love you very much.
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It’s is hard to believe but today, 17 years ago, my wife and I got married. This particular anniversary was a little different since Deborah would normally be sitting in the next room on a normal day, and this week she is in Denver teaching a hand quilting class, and it just happen to fall on our anniversary. So, Happy Anniversary Deborah. I think this is actually the first time in 17 years that we actually haven’t been together on June 11th.
The time has just flown by, yet I can almost remember every day. Anyone who says marriage is easy is crazy (or isn’t married) but I wouldn’t trade it for anything with you Deborah. Sorry we couldn’t be together today, so in place of getting to go out somewhere nice tonight, I, of course decided to make a video for you of little bits of our 17 years together.
Really really hard to believe it has been 17 years. Can’t wait to see what 17 more years has in store for us (which would be the year 2027, yikes).
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I rarely make such personal statements on my blog, but I thought it would be appropriate today for what truth is spoken and pronounced in public, becomes even more validating to me in private. So here goes.
Today, Deb (see her blog) and I made it to our 15th year together (at least post marriage). I can’t at this point do anything that will be able to express what those 15 years have been like with you but to say, thank you. We have done so many things and gone to so many places together over the last 15 years that it is hard to express with any written manner what they have been like.
We have been through so much together and I still can’t wait to see what the next 15 years is going to be like. I think and dream about all the places we will go, things we will do together, and how our lives will change together. I think about the what, where, when, and how of our future, all with excitement and anticipation. I love being able to grow older (not old yet) with someone I care for so much. We have grown together in our faith, our love for each other, and even the understanding of our purpose together. What hasn’t been a perfect 15 years, has been something I cherish in my heart.
You have always supported me in whatever I wanted to do, have pulled me and stretched me to grow, and have been the love of my life since we met. This blog is our life going back only 4-5 years or so, but the pages of this blog and our life going forward are white and un-written yet. I can’t wait to fill the pages in with you. I love you Deborah. Happy Anniversary.
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New From Old
We had the diamonds in my old engagement ring made into a pair of beautiful triangle earrings and a custom made white gold pendant. This was something very special for us and we were thrilled with how it turned out. The center diamond here is the main diamond on my original engagement ring. The original design called to remove the pieces going from the center of the diamond out to the flower peddles but we liked it like this and decided to leave it this way. It has great new meaning to both of us and I love being able to wear my original engagement ring on a pendant around my neck. The local jewelry designer here in Auburn did a great job (Wears in Auburn is quite famous around here but we went to the one in Opelika this time). We have used them now for several different pieces and I am so thrilled with how this one turned out.
How do you like it? I think it turned out just beautiful myself.
