Valentine’s Day ~ Part 2

 

This is my first Valentine’s Day in 46 years without my dear husband. I am still going to make a special dinner, like I always did in the 43 years of our marriage. I will raise my glass of wine in a toast to Mark and our love, and to God for bringing us together and keeping us together through richer or poorer, in good times and bad.

I am thankful for what we had. As several have mentioned, we were blessed, as a lot of people don’t have what we had. We did not have a perfect marriage, but our love grew deeper and stronger through the years we were blessed with together.

My parents were divorced when I was around 12. It impacted me then, and has affected my whole life. I wanted my marriage to work. I wanted it to be filled with love and laughter. When DH and I were dating we talked about growing old together. We did age together, we just didn’t get to live as old as we would have liked. But, we can’t second guess God’s plans for our lives, and God took my husband home when it was the perfect time for him to go. I miss him terribly, and will the rest of my life.

We read lots of wonderful things about making a marriage work. Our marriage was a continual work of art. Love is like a seed that needs to be nurtured, daily. Showing love isn’t just to be done on holidays, but each and every day, in words and actions, more than gifts. Gifts are nice, yes, but not that important in the overall scheme of things.

We once read this ** Renew and renew your vow - it will do you good - and thereby your souls will grow together - contented in the love which is stronger than death - and you will become truly one.  Anonymous **

We did just that, renewed our vows, more than once. A few years back was the last time and we went all out with this little ceremony. The memories are priceless. There is joy in renewing your vows. You have deeper love for one another because of living together, growing together, learning to understand one another more with each new day.

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We found and bought the rose below for this ceremony. A rose with a reverse color on underside.

Red roses ~ love, beauty, courage, respect

White roses ~ reverence, humility, heavenly

The name of this rose is ‘Love’.

Let your love grow and blossom.

Nurture it every single day.

Cherish and treasure it.

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Two songs below for us and our love.

Because you loved me ~ Celine Dion

 

Love of my Life ~ Carlos Santana

Happy Valentine’s Day to all of you dear friends, followers and family.

FlowerLady

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As dew to the blossom,

and bud to the bee, 

as the scent to the rose,

are those memories to me.

Amelia B Welby