Valentine's Day...All Year Long?

Valentines Day is coming quickly! I am not focused on Sunday, but have it perched in the back of my mind. I feel like there has been so much going on in the life of my husband and I that a flowery day in February need not be put on such a pedestal as to take over what is important in our daily lives.

Such as, our working together with grace and love. 

For example, our bathroom "remodel", seems to be all consuming.
It is coming along well, but mistakes have been made. 
Like my being certain that I could make that warped piece of car-siding work. which it did not. and I had already glued it. and partially nailed it. sigh.  
Or my husband accidentally cutting the red wire on the in floor heating mat while cleaning up the floor tiles before grouted. Pulling up tiles were necessary. sigh.
Neither of us got upset at the other when these things happened. We just helped one another with the process of making things right.

That is for us, in part, what real love is. Working together, not getting mad over the small things in life and laughing with each other....a lot.

We do not get upset if each of us is interested in different things. 
For example (again, or would that be redundant?) my hubby likes those detective style TV shows and I do not. We just watch different televisions in our house. No big deal, when the shows are done, we come together to watch what we do like - life is good, and when each of us watch the differing shows, when one falls asleep, the snoring does not interrupt the climactic choice of the perfect wedding dress! (I love you honey!!)

We pray together each night. faithfully. Our love of the Lord and surrender to Him is the biggest part of our love relationship and the most important. 

We hug, a lot.  We hold each other's hand, talk, and have dinner together. 

These small things may not seem like a big deal, but going without them makes such a chasm in a marriage that some cannot bring that breach back together.
We have made it a priority to not allow ourselves to let that chasm even start.

Do we do thing without each other? Yes, yes we do. I do things with my best girlfriends, my hubby plays music with his friends. My hubby does Daddy - Daughter date nights, I have my photography business that takes me away at times.

Life is our Valentine's Day. Will we celebrate the 14th? Yes, but in a small way like a card or candy or something homemade.

Which brings me to this! Some wonderful homemade items that I have found. Here are a couple that are incredibly easy and are without sugar or artificial sweeteners!

Like this Quinoa Bark from Half Baked Harvest (which is in my refrigerator right now) 

Or these No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Fudge Bars from Chocolate Covered Kate  Oh Yum!!!!!!

What will you be making or giving this Valentine's Day?

p.s. I think these are just the sweetest gifts to give: "Bee" my "Honey" on Valentine's Day. From Joanna Gaines 
 

A Look Into Fibromyalgia

First off, to get understanding right away, let me ask you this: have you ever been falling asleep and reach that point where you are still "consciously aware" of what is going on around you but are unable to rouse yourself to movement or speech? i.e. you are napping on the sofa and hear the children fighting but cannot speak or move to stop them...because you are asleep, or supposed to be?

OK, ground work laid. 

That was me, last night....for a couple of hours. I could literally hear myself moaning and whimpering but could do nothing about it. I could not wake myself enough to stop. I know this to be true as I finally did wake up fully at 3:30 am and got out of bed to talk to my sweet hubby (who was preparing for a grueling day of work) and he had sadly been laying awake listening to me. My heart aches for him. That he lost sleep over me.

You see, although not all nights (less than more) are like this, there are those nights and actually days in which the pain can be this strong. Medicines are good at taming the beast but not always fully effective. I am not complaining as I know that I have many more good days, active wonderful days in which I fully enjoy life, my family and can work, serve and shop without feeling frustrated. 

They call Fibromyalgia the "Silent Disease" as those who suffer from it look to be without any issues. We do not look diseased in our outward flesh...tired yes, but don't we all have those days! 

I put these words to cyber-paper not to draw attention to me, on the contrary, my goal is to bring awareness to this relentless affliction that so many out there suffer from and for those who have but do not have an official diagnosis. Please know that there is help, there are those who will listen and there ARE ways to help yourself cope and feel better! 

I find that submerging myself in things that truly bring me joy is the best medicine. Keeping active, making myself get up in the morning, doing what I need to do and then what I want to do can make days much better. But I also know that there are days when I need to just sit. Relax. Take it easy. I cannot do it all like I used too. 

And I keep this little saying in my head: It is a Great day to HAVE a Great day!