Thursday, February 14, 2013

Happy Valentine's Day Traditions!

May you recognize and feel the love of those 
who love you dearly and so completely....
Even when they may not recognize your love language
or when what they have to offer does not feel like love to you...

Open your heart to Heaven, and let HIS love in...
You are loved and are deserving of love.


My Father would come home from work in the evening on Valentines Day
a little later than usual. And he would come in the back
door instead of the front door!
Before he arrived however, there would be a very loud banging on
the front door and we would run to the door to see who it could be!

We always found a bag of Valentine goodies, chocolates, conversation hearts,
cherry flavored candies in the shape of a heart or a cupid with an arrow,
and sometimes red licorice...I loved red licorice...

There was always something special for our Mother in it,
a small heart shaped box of chocolates and a pretty card that
was obviously for someone special.

Always attached was a card revealing who the bestower
of this annual Valentine Gift was....
The Valentine Bandit!!!!

No one ever found out WHO this bandit was...at least no one
ever caught him in the act!
The amazing thing was that even when I was at college, 650 miles away,
I still received something special from
The Valentine Bandit!
(of course, I did live within 15 miles of an older sibling)

After my father passed away, 21 years ago in just a week or so,
as adult children, we still "Bandited" our
Mother on Valentines Day.
Sometimes she had many bandits, we should
have thought to take turns!

My hubby always has purchased children's valentines for our children and 
signed them himself, with  no promptings from me. 
Most years they also received a box of conversation hearts with his valentine.
From him I always receive a funny card and a "mushy" card, he is SO CUTE!!!

This year, he has been gone for a few days and won't be home until tonight. 
But the day after he left, our youngest, Daughter*4, came from her room with 
a handful of Dove Chocolates. She asked me if I had put them in her bed,...
"No," I said and started to smile...."Those would be from your Father!" 
I had no idea he planned that! 

I climbed into bed alone that night, in the dark, and realized I had 
forgotten to take my nightly pill. 
When I came back to the bed and turned on my nightlight, 
I saw a glimmer of shiny blue under the covers....
So, I threw back the covers and there I found at least two dozen 
Dove Chocolates in our bed! I laughed and my heart warmed as I
thought of the many fun ways he expresses his love. 
Each morning and night I have come cross another dove chocolate in our bed...
it's like he planned for them to be scattered and found randomly while he was away...
that way I would think of him often and miss him...which I have. 

He told me that he had a bag hidden in our bedroom for Daughter*4 
and I to open up this morning. Daughter*4 is gone to The State Wrestling 
match tonight and tomorrow and so I get to do Valentine's Dinner with 
my Mom-in-law and neice...and it will be a fun candle light dinner for us girls. 

Even if Hubby and I have not celebrated Valentines Day in the same house today, 
we have celebrated the love we share as a family, as a couple, 
and as friends in our hearts...and for that kind of relationship
I will always be grateful!
Hope your Day has been as Happy as Mine!

Heart hugs to you all!



PS The picture up top is of the Valentine I made and gave to Daughter*4 today before she left on her trip. When she realized yesterday that I was going to be alone this evening, she felt bad... and I appreciate that!!  ; ) Of course, this is a picmonkey'd picture...I am going to have to practice to see if I can get this look on the REAL thing! This small picture is the real thing, with just the watermark added...LOL
XOXOX



21 comments:

  1. You've had such a sweet Dad to surprise you all every year as the Valentine Bandit. Your hubby is very cute as well, hiding chocolates in your bed. I hope you had a lovely day even though he was not at home.
    Have a great weekend!
    Hugs,
    Julia

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was a lovely day, but I am glad to have my hubby home!
      Thanks for visiting!
      Betsy

      Delete
  2. That is such a beautiful story Betsy ! I have enjoyed reading your stories and taking a look at your photo's. Thankyou for popping in to say hello at French Blue and Peachy Pink. I too love Doni's blog and also other blogs with like minded people. Your Dad sounds like a wonderful man who has touched all of his family in a very special way.
    Blessings,
    Melanie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for stopping by, My father was a wonderful man, he touched MANY lives beyond his own family...he had a haeart valve replaced and we said it was because he loved so much, he wore out his heart...!
      Hugs,
      Betsy

      Delete
  3. Awww, what a beautiful, romantic story. You and your family are just a great bunch of people.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for your kind words and deeds, Liz!
      Heart hugs to you! Thanks for coming by!
      XO,
      Betsy

      Delete
  4. Hi Betsy, thank you for the sweet comment on my blog! I am now a new follower, Di from Cottage-Wishes. Love this story, my family means so much to me and the sweet memories of my parents and grandparent are the best. Di

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Di, Thanks so much for coming by and following! I love your blog!
      Hearts,
      Betsy

      Delete
  5. Hi Betsy,

    What a lovely Valentine story and history you have !!
    Thank you for sharing.

    Hugs,
    Wilma.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wilma, Thanks you so much for your kind heart, I do have a great Valentine History!!!! As well!
      I am in love with LOVE in all forms....
      Hearts,
      Betsy

      Delete
  6. Oh Betsy, What a sweet story of how your family shows love. Made my eyes tear up. I miss my hubby terribly when he goes hunting...after almost 34 years we still don't like being away from each other more than 2-3 days. God has so blessed our marriage. We have 4 daughters! Do you have any boys? We don't. But... I had 4 miscarriages, so we might have 4 boys in heaven!! What a fun thought.

    Have a lovely day, sweet lady!
    Just love your heart!
    Hugs,
    Becky

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Becky,
      We also had a miscarriage before any of our children were born. The kids all said they would love to have an older brother in Heaven! We did have one boy, he is our fourth child. Daughter 4 is our fifth child. She is almost 17 though...
      We hope we get to have another boy in Heaven!
      Hearts,
      Betsy

      Delete
  7. Loved this tale (especially as I grew up without a mother and half the time in care)I really envy these wonderful childhoods. I also loved your 'slipper tale' (posted on my knitted slipper post). My husband of 30 years always buys flowers and a gift and says wonderful things on his cards. I send kids (5) and g/kids (3)anonymous cards and the little ones sweets and pretty pants. I also bought some pretty heart shaped sandwich boxes and packed a special lunch to surprise hubby at lunch time in the office.(They were embarrassingly pink)! To this I added a card and gift.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Annabelle, I am so happy he loves you and gives you sweet gifts now, that helps your adulthood be happy. I LOVE the heart shaped box idea....That sounds like so much fun!!!! thanks for coming by! I love your slippers idea!
      heart hugs to you girl,
      Betsy

      Delete
  8. What wonderful traditions and memories are being made in your family! You are very blessed!
    Have a wonderful week!
    sandy :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sandy,
      I love traditions. And i am so glad my children do too! Thanks for coming by!
      Betsy

      Delete
  9. Hi I'm Heather! Please email me when you get a chance, I have a question about your blog! LifesABanquet1(at)gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love your Valentine Bandit tradition! How fun that you've passed it down to your family. Your husband sounds so sweet and thoughtful, who wouldn't want to find dove chocolates hidden in bed:)? Oh, I also love the card you made, it's gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Donna!
      It was nice to know he was thinking about me! This trip he went on, i didnt get the chance to sneak somehing in his suitcase, sometimes I do and it is uaually fun...
      Hugs to you,
      Betsy

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  11. What beautiful memories of your dad and the fun ones your husband is making!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes,
      Many great memories of Dads!
      Hearts,
      Betsy

      Delete

Thank you for coming by and taking the time to comment.
Your comments warm my heart!