Happy St. Valentine's Day

I know so many people believe it to be a "Hallmark" holiday, but it truly is a celebration of St. Valentine. He was a real person!

 

This what I found in Wikipedia, that may explain the background of St. Valentine a bit better than Hallmark...wink!

~The feast of St. Valentine of February 14 was first established in 496 by Pope Gelasius I, who included Valentine among all those "... whose names are justly reverenced among men, but whose acts are known only to God." As Gelasius implies, nothing was yet known to him about his life.

He was arrested and imprisoned upon being caught marrying Christian couples and otherwise aiding Christians who were at the time being persecuted by Claudius in Rome. Helping Christians at this time was considered a crime. Claudius took a liking to this prisoner – until Valentinus tried to convert the Emperor – whereupon this priest was condemned to death. He was beaten with clubs and stones; when that failed to kill him, he was beheaded outside the Flaminian Gate. Various dates are given for the martyrdom or martyrdoms: 269, 270, or 273.^[16]

On that pleasant note...

To most of us, Valentine's Day is a happy childhood reminder of elementary school, where we made valentine boxes out of old tissue boxes, and passed out Valentines to all our classmates. Then of course, there was the much anticipated Valentine's Day party, where most of us wore some form of the Valentines Day color theme of pink, red, and white; and finally, had the chance to share and laugh over our funny conversation candy hearts!

These are some Valentine's I received from my pres-school in 1977.

What about Valentine's Day as an adult? Isn't it just a way to get you to spend needless money on a worthless holiday? {This is not my opinion, but rather what I hear echoed on television shows, news, etc.}

Well, I've never felt it was anything but, a great excuse to show your love for the "loves" in your life. That can be a friendship that you love that you have in your life, your children, parents, grandparents, teachers etc. etc.

I personally celebrate Valentine's Day by baking, and surprising my guys with valentines. I'm also making a nice dinner for the 4 of us tonight and yummy desserts. Valentine's Day is another excuse to hug on them and show them how much I love them.

But most importantly, to show how thankful I am that God gave me the gift of having them in my life!

 

Poor Landen is trying to enjoy his cupcake in peace....unsuccessfully!

Even their favorite ball is no match to the cupcake!

These were from Glen to me! I just love the addition of the red carnations.

Don't fall victim to propaganda! Valentine's Day is a REAL day to celebrate our freedom as Christians and any religion, to love one another. And a chance to take another opportunity to show and tell our loved ones how much they matter to us.

Because, none of us knows what tomorrow will bring and we must cherish every day we have with those we love. So having 1 day a year reminding of this specifically? Well, I think it's a gift!

Have A Happy St. Valentine's Day With Your Loved Ones!

 

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