Tuesday 4
Valentine's Day
Let's talk about St. Valentine's Day.
1. St Valentine paid for the weddings of poor girls. Today weddings can cost a fortune. What do you think about wedding expenses?
I think the cost of modern day weddings is outrageous. When we were married almost 52 years ago we had a simple wedding in our church and reception in the church fellowship hall. We served cake and punch and nuts and mints. The wedding was at 3 p.m., so people were not expecting a sit down dinner...and where we lived that would have been unheard of anyway. We didn't even send out invitations...just put an announcement in the local paper and our church bulletin that all friends of the Bride and Groom were welcome to attend. There were probably 50-70 people there, I don't remember now. The important thing is we are still happily married almost 52 years later! It's not how big and beautiful and expensive the wedding is that matters...it's how much the couple love one another that makes the difference! And having a marriage founded on the Solid Rock of Jesus Christ is what makes all the difference in the world!
2. Do you or did you send Valentines to people?
4. Do you do anything special for Valentine's Day with partners or family?
Matthew 19:4-6
"4. And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? 6 So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”
2. Do you or did you send Valentines to people?
I am in the process of doing so right now! 
3. Do you find Valentine's day to be romantic?
And I have a little helper named Lily Grace!
She is sending out some Valentines to her special friends too!
3. Do you find Valentine's day to be romantic?
Here's some pictures from my scrapbook from our first Valentine's Day together before we were married and just newly engaged:
I can't say that I find it to be particularly that romantic. We really never did a lot extra for Valentine's Day...usually we give each other cards and we might go out to lunch or something like that, but no big deal. I don't recall ever getting flowers...we always have been on a tight budget throughout our marriage and flowers always seemed like an extravagance that we just couldn't afford. I would rather go out to eat than have flowers. Now if he picked some from the garden (if we had any), or even some wildflowers, I'd be perfectly happy! And I really don't care for candy. So there you have it. We are "romantic" all the time and don't wait for Valentine's Day to do something considered "romantic".
I guess I already answered this question above. Also, my hubby's birthday is on the 16th, so we usually combine Valentine's Day with his birthday party, and have done that since our engagement...see picture of us above! So usually the whole family gets together at some point close to Valentine's Day. And that is fine with me! I love having our family together! That brings a lot of happiness and joy to us!
I do think it is fun to send cards to the kids and special friends on Valentine's Day. I don't think any of us are ever too old to enjoy getting a Valentine's Card in the mail!
Happy Valentine's Day folks.
You might also want to go visit Lily Grace at The Adventures of Lily Grace today and see the story about the Bluebirds of Happiness! 
I enjoyed reading your answers. We never did anything special on Valentines day, but after jake passed away, I quickly realized that this is a day meant for couples and I no longer am a couple, so don’t fit in. it's not too bad by now, but those first years I just wanted February 14 to over.
ReplyDeleteOh Ruth, I know that it must be a difficult day for you. I have one dear more elderly (but very active) friend who is also widowed, and she LOVES to send out Valentine cards to everyone she knows. She either makes them or just buys the simple kids' Valentines to mail out to friends and family. It is a kind of a ministry for her to send a smile in the mail to others on that day. I like that idea and I am trying to do a little bit of that this year, but not to the extent that she does. Postage is too high! But we've been the recipients of her cards before, and it always brought such joy to us to receive them. Just a nice way to turn the day into a happy day for those who may not be feeling so happy. So here is our Valentine to you! Praying your day will be filled with unexpected joys and delights from morning to night! Have a Beautiful and joy-filled Valentine's Day!!Love Pam and Lily Grace.
DeleteThank you for joining in. I had a good time reading your answers too!
ReplyDeleteThank you Annie, for coming up with these questions for us and making this happen each week. I hope you have a Happy and fun filled Valentine's Day!
DeleteI spent way way too much money on my daughter's wedding. Her excuse was that we shouldn't have sent her to Auburn and let her be in a sorority because she had to keep up:) It was lovely and I don't begrudge her one bit. She has been a great kid all her life, but I can assure you our small wedding with cake and punch in the reception hall worked just fine too. Hubby and I made a decision to celebrate simply V Day and anniversaries way back when. It has worked for us. I have Valentine's cards from elementary school downstairs. I am going to try and get down today and take some photos to share later this week. My little treasures.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you were able to give your daughter such a lovely wedding. Times have changed sine we were married and there is a lot more expectation for weddings today. The important thing is to see them have a happy and wonderful beginning to their life together, with friends and loved ones to share it with them. We do need to celebrate as often as we can! Life is too short! Oh, I can't wait to see your little treasured Valentine's cards. Those were such happy times, weren't they? We could have little parties in our homerooms, with a cupcake and punch or some other treat, and everyone had a little shoebox decorated for their Valentines. It was so much fun. Happy Memories!!
DeleteI am so glad you have a helper to make Valentine's! Make sure Lily Grace does not play with your stamps..hee, hee. Loved your answers! Have a nice week!
ReplyDeletehttps://lorisbusylife.blogspot.com/
Oh, Lily Grace had a good time "stamping" all the envelopes and cards and making them pretty!! We had a lot of fun!! Hope you have a nice week too. Will you be having a Valentine's party at your school, or is that taboo because of "covid"? I hope not. I hope they can still do the traditional fun things. Kids need that so much. Happy Valentine's Day!!
DeleteMy first few Valentine's Days were difficult after Alan passed away. Now, it's just another day.
ReplyDelete(((hugs))) to you today Melanie. I hope you can have a happy Valentine's Day with your family and friends nearby. Maybe you could have a little tea party with your cute granddaughter and celebrate Valentine's Day with her! That would be fun! Whatever you do, just know that you are LOVED with an everlasting love!!!
DeleteWhat a great wedding photo! Mostly, I love your scrapbook images. Brings a lump to my throat, on account I've got something similar in the hope chest. Ron used to make homemade Valentine's using pink construction paper and silly verses in block print.
ReplyDeleteOh, out of order, but I totally agree about the cost of weddings today. My last boss spent THOUSANDS of dollars on her daughters' weddings.... think the cost of a new tricked-out Mercedes. I strongly suspect it was more about her and her husband's social status than the daughters themselves. The prettiest wedding I remember was my granddaughter's ceremony in her parent's home. Her dress was, I think, like $40 (recycle boutique) and her mother had 4-5 different kinds of Publix cakes on separate pretty pedestals she found at Goodwill!
Yes, I believe it's not so much about the cost or extravagance of a wedding that makes it beautiful...it's the love that is shared between the couple and those around them that makes the day memorable. But everyone is different and they must do what they feel is right for them. The main thing is it should be a day to celebrate LOVE!! Same thing with Valentine's day. Celebrate LOVE...between families, friends, lovers, everyone!! Happy Valentine's Day!!
DeleteYour answer to number 1 is perfect. It all becomes different these days when you have two families coming together and differing expectations and trying to please to many people and I think we got caught up in that. I mean we ahd several of the grooms famiy form mainline China coming , and I think his mom was wanting to have things so so! But at the time, the money didnt affect us that much, praise God and I know the couple loved having everyone around them. We had their wedding at their college chapel becasue they were both still students doing their graduate work. and the good thing was after the wedding we didnt have to pay college fees anymore because they both had scholarships and were able to pay daily expenses from their violin engagements... so that helped. And the other family paid for all the flowers which was a substantial charge. SO everyone remember their wedding with sweet memories!
ReplyDeleteDear Schotzy, I believe every family has to do what seems right for them with all these things considered. It's wonderful that you were able to give your daughter such a lovely wedding, especially since you had family coming all the way from China! I can imagine that was a very exciting day for everyone, one that will always be remembered. The important thing is you celebrated a beautiful couple who love each other very much. That is what really matters most. Everyone needs to do what is right for them and it sounds like that is exactly what you did! What a blessing!!
DeleteAmen to #1! Though, I have to admit I had a big wedding. It was done as cheaply as possible, however. The big firehall wedding (sort of like the wedding scene from The Deer Hunter if you've seen that) was the tradition around here. We had 250 guests and a live band. Still, we managed to keep it moderately priced. It probably helped that I wasn't like other girls and never spent a lot of time thinking about my dream wedding. Now, that wasn't the tradition in the northwestern corner of the state where my mom's family was from nor in some of the other regions family came from. All but those who lived in the area expressed their amazement at such a reception. They, too, were used to the cake and punch version. I even served as flower girl in a couple of those. :) Have a wonderful and blessed day, Pam!
ReplyDeleteI bet your wedding was a lot of fun! Sounds like it was exactly what you needed and wanted. Weddings are also a cultural event, and families need to do what they feel is best for them. The important thing is to celebrate the love of two people who are coming together in Holy Matrimony, and to make it a day they will never forget. It's not so much about the cost, but the LOVE that is shared between everyone there. Sounds like yours was a great day to remember.
DeleteI enjoyed your answers. Happy Tuesday!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jodi! It is so nice to meet new people here! I hope you will come back again! Have a blessed and Happy Valentine's Day!
DeleteThis was a fun post! Love your sweet dollie and all the fun you are having. And I don't have my old Valentines out yet! Maybe I should play a little today! Enjoy the week...sure is beautiful so far!
ReplyDeleteI hope you did take some time to play today! Of course, you play everyday taking your wonderful hikes!! I would enjoy that too. But I'd love to see what you come up with when you "play" a little!! Have a wonderful rest of your week too.
DeleteIn the past, we've always gone out for a meal around Valentine's Day; going the day of is usually too crowded and the service not so good because they are so busy. Of course, this year we won't be going out at all due to the Covid. But Danny and I are pretty romantic all the time, so one day isn't that important to us, either.
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Pamela!
Yes, I believe keeping the romance going all the time is better than just one day a year! And yes, going out to eat is better to do not ON Valentine's day, but maybe a day before or after. We've done that too. Hope you do something special this year, even if you can't go out! Grill a steak!!!
DeleteHow great that you saved those precious memories in a scrapbook. So handy to go back and reminisce about the good ol' days. Truth be told, everyday should be Valentine's Day because we should always let our loved one know we love them. But it's also nice to have that one special day to make things special. However you want to celebrate, fancy, spancy, doesn't matter, just enjoy LOVE.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree! Just enjoy LOVE!! Amen!!!!
DeleteOur answers were very similar today, Pam. My first wedding was also small and the cake and punch were served in the UMC church's hall. I am always amazed at how much weddings today cost. Over-the-top!! Joe and I are still not well and we feel like it is a side effect from the vaccine. Mind hit 3 days after and Joe followed me a couple of days after that. He feels worse than I did. We don't know what else to 'blame' it on since no one we have been around is sick. Crazy. Just hope it is short-lived!!
ReplyDeleteI thought I answered this last night, but maybe I just imagined I did. Wow, where did it go? Anyway, I am praying for you and Joe to feel better soon, and trusting it will go away quickly. (Maybe I answered it on your page?) Take care my friend. Love to you both!
DeleteBeautiful post today. Weddings have gotten outrageous but its not about the cost!!!My first wedding was large but I made most of my stuff (31 yrs ago) we only served cake punch and nuts however my niece in 2013 had a rehearsal dinner, and a full dinner the day of her wedding, they spent way too much money. Gator and I got married on the creek bank in West Fork AR we had the perfect weather for a perfect day. The minister was so sweet and kind when we told her of Gator's fight with cancer hugs n love
ReplyDeleteI think every wedding needs to reflect the love of the two people being united, and that is what should be celebrated. It doesn't matter how big or how small, but that they are celebrating the love they share and enjoying family and friends being there together for the special day. Your wedding with Gator sounds very very sweet and special. Much love and prayers to you both today.
Deleteoh it was :) here is the link https://heavygators.blogspot.com/2018/07/i-am-officially-mrs-gator.html if your interested in looking ;):)
DeleteVery nice post, Pam! I love your all's wedding picture, what a great looking couple you WERE AND STILL ARE!! You look so pretty in your wedding dress. Our wedding sure sounds pretty much identical to yours. We had a pretty wedding cake, several "tiers", punch, nuts/candies etc. None of any of us back then would've even thought of providing a meal for everyone. I'd never seen that done anywhere. Was it cultural/regional or just the "times", I wonder? Just about everyone had their receptions in the church basement or fellowship "hall", depending on the church's rules, there may or may not have been dancing. Alot of churches wouldn't have allowed that. Weddings these days are so so so different from what we are used to and what we had.Our wedding day is one of the happiest days of my life to look back on--- and I know yours was too--we married for love and based our marriages on the Lord's will, as you said. Hope your week is going great!
ReplyDeleteOh, thank you, Debbi, for your sweet words! My mother made my wedding dress, so it was pretty special. I still have it in my closet. I never saw a wedding with a big dinner, etc., for a reception until we moved up north. It seemed then to be a more regional/cultural thing, but now it seems to be that way everywhere, regardless of culture and region. I don't begrudge people their lovely big weddings, but my feeling is it needs to be something affordable so that people don't have to go into debt to have the lavish weddings. If you can afford it, great! Go for it! But the simpler wedding to me is just a lovely and meaningful. The important part is the love between the couple and that they include the Lord in their marriage. Without Him they are starting out on shaky ground no matter how big the wedding! Yes, we are having a great but busy week. Haven't had a lot of time for adventures this week! How about you and Tracie? Love to all of you!!!
DeleteI love watching the fun you have with Lily Grace :) It's refreshing to see familiar traditions through the eyes of a "child"
ReplyDeleteHappy Valentine's Day!
Thank you, Molly! My only problem is slipping in and out of being a "child" again...I sometimes forget which person I'm supposed to be today! LOL. Hubby's concerned I may permanently slip into the "child" version if I don't watch out. I said it may be inevitable anyway...LOL. Have a Happy Valentine's Day too!
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