Happy Valentine's Day

I have never been a huge Valentine's day person. Well, not in the sense that most people think. I never had any fuss made over me. I was in an unhappy marriage for more than 16 years and it was a painful reminder of the fact that I didn't have someone that loved me like I was supposed to be loved. I know this is a bit of a downer. Most of you will wonder why I'd start like this? 

I spent years feeling alone. Like everyone was happy and in love and that would never be my life. I spent many unhappy years being reminded by all the kissing couples, flowers arriving on neighbor's doorsteps, jewelry commercials. For those of you out there who feel like things didn't turn out like a fairy tale romance, don't feel alone.

Blessed that this year I received these...not in the past

I didn't have a happy marriage before and now I have a magical one, truly. I'm loved unconditionally. It's wonderful, but for years I didn't have that. I could have grown resentful about the holiday all together. Commercialism making me feel like a loser in the love department and all of that! Instead I made it a happy time each year. I do have 4 amazingly beautiful and sweet daughters by that marriage. Each year I get them  a little treat, stuffed animal or something and a card I've made or bought. It's something they look forward to every year. I also make them a special Valentine's dinner. It's usually pink and red themed. Sauce for a dinner tinted pinkish, red velvet cake, cranberry ginger ale. I always set the table pretty and make it special. All day I focus on making my house look pretty and making it a special night for them. In doing this I was able to turn the sadness I felt for my own personal situation into something positive and giving to another. This made the years more joyous to me. I now have a wonderful husband and we went out last night for dinner. It was so nice. He surprised me with roses and a little straw owl (I love owls). I also had a beautiful owl card that was precious. You can't see what he wrote on the back, but it brought tears to my eyes. I'm joyous this year that I have a wonderful mate. I do not take it for granted, because I know all too well that it is a very special thing and not everyone has this. 

I think the point I'm trying to make...

If you don't have a happy marriage, if you are single, childless or just feeling blue today? Find the joy and blessings in your life. Make your happiness where you can and remember that at one time. I drove around in a nice Expedition, pulled up in front of a pretty home with my 4 darling girls and went inside to a home where someone did not love me. It looked great from the outside, but there was sadness. My faith that God loved me no matter what was key to my choosing to be happy. We sometimes look at others and envy their life or happiness. It's okay to want more for your life, but don't ever let that get you down and rule you. There is something in front of you that can give you joy and that you are lucky to have:

health, family, a job, a place to live, food on a table, or the computer you are reading this on?

Find something or someone you love and make a happy day no mater what your circumstances. Make something if the money isn't there to buy something.

I speak from experience.

Sorry for the not so upbeat blog today folks, but I have been there and sometimes people need to know, they are not alone. God does love each one of us and He has a purpose for us each day if we are just willing to ask what it might be. I'll leave you with a verse that I have always loved and shows His love for you:

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? Matt. 6:25-27

Until next time Dear Reader,

Chatty Cathy