Unexpected surprises

Isn't it strange when you least expect it someone does something amazing to brighten your day? Today is Valentine's Day ... and I thought it would come and go as quietly as many years past.

I am woman and I think almost all of us day dream of candle light and rose petals ... I will confess I do think stores/movies/TV place a little too much emphasis on Feb 14 ... however, it is nice to be thought of ...

My kids woke up to bright red envelopes and new soft stuffed bears! I made sure they had their boxes for class ... their valentines written out ... and treats for friends. Each teacher received a special heart filled surprise, I thought of my worker bees, and a friend or two... never did I think or expect anything more than the sweet hand made cards with crooked red hearts and mis-spelled words from my loving children.

Today was my first day back to work after 4 weeks off :o -- I thought after a long day of reacclimating to my crazy work schedule I'd come home to an empty house and hungry dog. Boy was I wrong ... never would have guessed my house was under attack!

I knew from the moment I pulled in the garage I was in for it ... I knew I should've changed the garage code to keep out the riff raff ;)

The first thought in my head was the sink of dirty dishes, laundry in the hall, and all the clutter from the weekend then had not been taken care of ... (oh my! --never leave a chore for tomorrow!)

Not a room was left untouched ... there were streamers from ceiling to floor, around furniture, tied to speakers and blinds, wrapped from here to there and back again! Shredded paper confetti everywhere, a few sweet Valentine surprises to make me smile and rose petals on my bed ... WOW ... how lucky am I?

Thank you St. Valentine for staying true to your faith, for your words and your sacrifice that is told to have been the origin of a holiday to honor love in the world!

And thank you to ALL the angels in my life who remind me how loved I am! I only hope you know how special and wonderful you are!

Hope

hope: to desire with expectation of obtainment

doesn't that definition seem to simplify hope? to simply long for something with the expectation of obtaining it ...

I guess it is the second part that seems to cause a struggle ... to expect to obtain it. That is where I must place my focus...

I will hope for my family health and happiness always. I will hope for success for my career. And most of all I will hope for love ... real love for always....

Confession

I have a confession. Are you ready for this? Are you sitting down ....?

SSSssshhhhh.... Ok. Here goes (deep breath) -gulp...

I am a Bachelor/Bachelorette junkie. Yes... I watch them all. :(

I enjoy morbid entertainment from watching the cat fights and witnessing the he said/she said moments. I chuckle when they say I love you after 2 or 3 dates ... now I'm not saying they haven't developed some type of feelings for each other. Seriously, who wouldn't become smitten after traveling to exotic places, after kissing in the rain in a real rain forest, after frolicking in crystal clear turquoise waters ... who dates like that? It's a reality show but there is nothing real about it. I find it interesting that they all look as if they've stepped out of a magazine centerfold. Where is the man with the beer belly bulge? Or the 15lb overweight mom of three?

Now I've dated some pretty great men. I've had wonderful dates and incredible weekend get aways, I've been to beautiful beaches and amazing restaurants ... but in real life not every date is an extravaganza. But that is what makes it real .. right? The moments where you see him/her in everyday life ... how do they deal with real adversity? Real life highs and lows?

I, like so many thousands of women in America, would love to be whisked away for a helicopter ride over exotic volcanoes. Who wouldn't want to have a candle lit dinner in the middle of a flourishing winery?

So I confess, for a couple hours each Monday, I wonder how it would be. But alas, I am a realist. I'll wait for the one who will stand by me, through the good and the bad. The man who will love me when I'm just waking up with a head of messy hair and no make up as much as he does when I'm in a dress and heels. The one man who can love all of me - the good, the bad, and the ugly ... the one willing to fight for my love, for our love.

Just watch out for the dragons honey! I hear they are quite feisty fire breathing pests!

Faith

If you have faith
as a grain of mustard seed,
you will say to your mountain
"MOVE"
and it
WILL move
and NOTHING will be impossilbe for you!

~Matthew 17:20

I don't need a man

I don't need a man ... but I want a man ..... I've said that so many times.

I've learned to stand on my own two feet. I have learned to be a plumber, electrictian, fix holes in the wall, mow the lawn, fix the sprinklers .... I rarely reach out for help ...even when I need it. Not as glamorous of a trait as you might think.

I don't need a man ... that statement is a lie. I do.

I finally realize that I do need someone.... I need someone to hold me at night. To tell me how proud they are of me when I accomplish something good ... to hold me and tell me it will be alright when I stumble and fall. I need someone who will sit by my hospital bed to make sure I'm ok. To hold my hand through recovery ... who'll sit and watch me sleep just to be there to take care of me when I wake and need some help.

I need a man to need me ... someone I can encourage. Someone I can be there for ... to listen to his dreams and his fears. I need a man to hold at night, to tell him I am so proud of what he has accomplished and who he is. Someone to tell it will be all right when he stumbles and falls.

So where is he? How do I find him?

I was told by a dear friend to 'not settle' ... but am I waiting for a fairy tale prince who does not exist? Nah ... I don't think so ... I know who you are .... and I will wait....