Happy Valentine's Day...no...week...no...LIFE!

 Shortly after Rog and I got married, something came up about Valentine's Day. I told him I pretty much HATED that over-rated, money-wasting, superficial, fake "holiday". I said something to the effect of "If you aren't going to show me you love me the rest of the year, don't bother spending a lot of money on me this ONE day".  Well, with Rog being Rog and with us having been married for less than a month at the time, he came up with an idea of how to "change my mind" about this mushy, gushy day.

On Februay 7, I received a beautiful card and a gift. Unfortunately, I didn't write down anywhere the gifts that I received that year. Sure wish I had. I do remember they were small things for the most part (though some of them were a little on the pricey side). Inside the card was something that meant more to me than any gift:  a short passage that Rog wrote about the First Time he ever heard my voice. And there was a poem.

The next day, another card and another piece of writing. This time it was the "First Time I Knew I Loved You". He recounted the struggle he had trying to come to grips with the fact that he was in love with me. If you know our story, you understand WHY he would be having reservations!

Day 3, another card. This time he wrote about the "First Time I Saw You".

and so on it went. Every day, a new card, another gift, and another heart felt piece of writing describing one of our "firsts".

I was completely blown away by it all. I had figured out that Rog was a TRUE romantic, but I really didn't know the extent...until that week. WHOA....all I can say is...A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.

Anyway....Valentine's Week continued each year for several more years.

As the years went on, though, we had to do a little budget belt tightening and Valentine's Week got downsized. At least that's what Rog has thought.

But here's the point of this whole blog entry:

This year, just like the last few, money has been a little tight around Valentine's Day. Rog was really bummed last week. He said "Today was supposed to be the first day of Valentine's Week...but I can't afford to buy you anything."
Here was my response "You silly boy. Don't be a goober." (since I am SOOOO good with the mushy, gushy romantic talk :\ )

What I meant to say was...I've had Valentine's Day every single day this year!!!!
Here are just SOME of the "gifts" I have received from Rog over the last year:

Being called "Beautiful Girl" every day (even when I look like DEATH!)
Never being lied to
Never being taken for granted
Never being made to feel unimportant
Hearing "I love you now more than ever"
Having the van warmed up on COLD mornings
A new ratchet set
Complimenting me for a good meal, and
NOT saying anything when a meal doesn't turn out quite as planned
Having my face and hair rubbed while laying on the couch watching DD&D
New (more expensive than I would EVER pay) running shoes
The knowlege that my husband is ALWAYS faithful to me at ALL costs
Strong arms to hold me when my world collapses around me
Ingles chicken salad
A pedicure
A haircut
A beautiful card on a random day just because
That super encouraging word when the scale wasn't nice to me
Being told that I'm all he's ever wanted in a wife
Being bragged on in front of his friends
The knowlege that my husband is sold out to God
Singing me to sleep
A week long trip to Florida
A meal at the Marietta Diner
Time with my daughter
Letting me stay in bed til 10:00 on a Saturday morning if I wanted to
Beautiful flowers

And there are LOTS more....but probably my FAVORITE one is knowing that I am going to wake up every day, and he's still going to be there. The greatest gift that Rog gives me is one he gives me EVERY day, and that's the security of our relationship. For so long, I was really scared that he was going to wake up one day and say, "Duuuude...What have I DONE?" and decide he needed to pack it up and head back to Jacksonville. But time has shown me that he WON'T do that. He is totally committed to me. Even when I screw up (which happens way too often). Even when I'm a butt head (which also happens more often than I would care to admit). Even when I'm TOTALLY unlovable. He is NOT going to give up on me and split.

And THAT my friends is what this Valentine's Day business should be about. It's not about showing "that special someone" that you care about them ONE day or even one week a year. It's about knocking it out of the park every day!! And THAT'S how it is for me!
Happy Valentine's Life everybody!