Valentine’s Day: Slices of Life

St John The Evangelist Teaching The New Commandment 'That Ye Love One Another', 1861 Canvas Painting by Valentine Cameron Prinsep - Easyart.com

Valentine’s Day 1991. I was lifeguarding during the evening swim hours at a local public school with a couple of my guy friends. They sent me out to buy a pizza at a fancy Italian restaurant that just happened to have a good deal on takeout pizzas. Waiting for my pizza in the lobby, I watched couple after couple come in and sit down at a cozy table for two.

I’ll never meet anybody worth spending time on, I thought. Maybe I am supposed to be a nun. Such hopelessness from a usually-optimistic 18-year-old !

Valentine’s Day 1992. After dinner with my first boyfriend, he said to me, “I love you.” Other than my Daddy, he was the first man to ever speak those words to me. Taught not to ever take or speak those words lightly, I said, “Thank you.”

I don’t remember when I finally said it back to him, but it was after much long consideration. Once we both knew we were meant for each other, we didn’t wait long to marry. We tied the knot on July 23, 1993.

Valentine’s Day 2011. He’s working, and I’m taking the girls to their evening travel softball practices. There are homemade paper valentines and chocolates on the table for our four little valentines. There are no candles in the house. A left-over manicotti casserole is defrosting on the kitchen counter.

There will likely be valentines and small gifts exchanged later…but it’s all just icing on the cake of life. Every day is Valentine’s Day when there is love in a family.

I John 4:7
“ Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.”

Half-Pint Valentine

I was up and out early this morning to catch up on my errands. It had been so cold and wet earlier this week that I had put off all my shopping until the sun was more promising.

As I opened up my jewelry box, my toddler said, “shee-shee”, and I knew was her attempt at saying, “Jesus”. My everyday-wear necklace is a crucifix on a strong gold chain, one that can withstand a little one’s loving tugs. Whenever she pulls on my cross, I say, “That’s Jesus”.

Her saying Jesus was a beautiful way to start the day!

We went to an electronics store for an item my husband and I had discussed earlier.

“Scary things,” he said, as the salesman almost tripped over the stroller.

“They call them kids, right?” he joked.

I told the young man that my purchase was to be a Valentine’s Day gift from me and my husband to each other.

Totally serious now, he confided that he and his wife had been married two years, and eventually they would get around to having a baby.

He was having some trouble finding the item. In the meantime, the baby was surprisingly patient. He kept making eyes at her. “She’s really cute,” he must have said a few times.

Did this twenty-minute transaction inspire this young man to discuss entering the world of parenthood with his wife on this St. Valentine’s Day?

I hope so.

This is the kind of everyday interaction that can touch individuals one-by-one and help to recultivate a Culture of Life in America.

Happy St. Valentine’s Day!

I got this nice e-mail in my inbox. It goes with the picture above...

'For God so loVed the world,
That He gAve
His onLy
BegottEn
SoN
That whosoever
Believeth In Him
Should Not perish,
But have Everlasting life.'
John 3:16

Chocolate-covered Strawberries

Chocolate Covered Strawberries:
An EASY and HEALTHY Treat for St. Valentine's Day!
Melt chocolate.
Dip strawberries in chocolate.
Drop onto wax paper.
Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Both chocolate and strawberries are very high in anti-oxidants and good for setting a romantic mood!

Chocolate Snowballs

Fast, easy, and kid-proof!
A great treat for St. Valentine's Day or any occasion at all!

You will need:
One pound of dark chocolate melting bisques
One 7-oz. bag of presweetened coconut flakes
Wax paper

In a double boiler, melt the chocolate.
Remove from heat to a trivet.
Mix in the coconut flakes.
Using a teaspoon, drop snowballs onto wax paper.
Let dry about one hour, or refrigerate for faster drying time.

P.S. This is full of healthy anti-oxidants - so enjoy with a good conscience!

Picture and title by E.K. Miller

St. Valentine’s Coconut Macaroons

(1) 14 oz. Package of Sweetened Flake Coconut
(1) 14 oz. Can of Sweetened Condense Milk
2 tsp. Vanilla Extract
1 ½ tsp. Almond Extract
Optional: Food Coloring (I used 5 drops of McCormick Neon Pink)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In large bowl combine all ingredients. Mix well.
Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto generously greased baking sheets.
Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned.
Immediately remove from baking sheets. Macaroons will stick if allowed to cool on baking sheets.
Store loosely covered at room temperature.
This is a messy treat so I put each cookie in its own paper cupcake cup.
Makes about 4 dozen.

This is a classic recipe modified by Elizabeth; original picture by Elizabeth