Happy "I Love You" Day!

February 14th, 2015…. some say it is arbitrary, but it is definitely a day that reminds us to think….what is love, actually?

Here are a few thoughts of mine on the matter:

When we talk about love, we begin to understand that we "love" many different things from our spouse, to our job, to coffee.
We as a family, we choose to look at love as a CHOICE!  A choice we make everyday….an action, not a feeling.  LOVE makes us feel amazing, but love can also bring sadness and hurt.  In a marriage relationship couples feel both.  Even in sibling and family relationships, we experience both.

In our 4 1/2 years of marriage, we have found that through the hard parts our action to love has brought us through the hard times.  Even when our utter foundations are rocked and cracked, our choice to LOVE each other has outweighed it all.

I love, LOVE!!!  I am thankful for LOVE!  I am faithful to LOVE!!!
I believe the love we feel on earth changes and sways, but the best love is the love we have from our God!  That is a love I aspire to learn…. a love that moves mountains….a love that brings differences together…..a love that truly means "I love you."

To my husband,
"Adam, I love you today more than I did yesterday.  Today I woke up next to you, thanked God for you, and choose to love you and I'll do the same tomorrow!"  "I love you!"


Plug:  The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman
This book has been our GO-TO study to check where our marriage is and learn to love intentionally everyday!  HIGHLY recommend this read for couples, families, etc…. GREAT BOOK!!!

Some Sisters!

"Sisters aren't always friends, but friends come and go.  The thing about sisters is they never let go!"          -Kristin Noel

This post was inspired by none other than.....my sister Kayla.  We have seen many things together and have been through many others.  The story is told that we use to fight over such silly things as bobby pins and this is probably true, but as the years have gone by we may have not always been friends, but we have been sisters.

Over the past few years as we have moved away to college to pursue our dreams, find love, and experience life I find myself missing those times in our youth.  I remember fondly a picture collage my sister made me one year for Christmas of the two of us with the song lyrics "O how the years go by" by Amy Grant.  I can't think of it without tearing up.  It's funny to think that the distance has brought us closer.  Maybe it's because we appreciate each other more and have learned to look deeper into our true characters and begin to see each other the way God intends for us to.

I remember fondly her Maid-of-Honor speech at our wedding that she ended by giving me a figurine very special to our family that has engraved in it "She's not heavy, she's my sister."  ......tearing up again!

Kayla also knows that I adore cards and would probably rather a card than any gift in the world.  She always sends me cute and thoughtful cards and the last one was no exception.  I had to share this because this card fits us like a glove!  Thank you Kayla for the many memories, the laughter, the tears, and definitely the love we have shared.

Some Sisters: A poem for you on Valentine's Day

Some sisters are big, while others are smaller
Some sisters are tiny, and others are taller
Some sisters have smarts, and many are witty
Some sisters are charming, delightful, and pretty
Some sisters are proper, still others pass gas
Some sisters are really a pain the.....uh....never mind.
Some sisters are many things, these are a few.....
And I'm really glad that my sister is YOU!  

This poem may be funny, cute, and witty......but it is the love that was shared through it's giving that means the most!  I'm really glad your my sister too!

Our Valentine's Day

Our day began very early with a call from Kristin's school that "school was cancelled" .........so a lovely sleep in with Adam followed by homemade french toast and strawberries with cream (one of Adam's favorite) for breakfast.

Adam went off to work and will pick Kristin up for a date at Macaroni Grill and then a late night movie The Vow!  It is shaping up to be a lovely Valentine's Day ------> we also received a lovely package from Dad and Mom Whiteman which reminded us that this is our 2nd Valentine's Day as a married couple :)  Thanks Mom and Dad for the reminder and for the lovely sweets :)

We have been getting ready for this day for the past week.  Kristin has been glued to the Valentine's Day Food Network specials and had a bit of a craving to bake lots of goodies.....so!  Last night we baked Giada's Double Chocolate Mint Cookies (which are to die for), homemade brownies with chocolate cream cheese frosting and heart sprinkles, and chocolate covered heart marshmallows!

 It was a chocolate filled night to say the least!  We packaged the sweets up and sent some off with Adam to share with his work pals and Kristin will take the rest to school tomorrow to share with the teachers.

Adam remarked last night "Hey, maybe we can actually keep some for us at the house this time"......so needless to say we are keeping some to enjoy!  

We hope you all are enjoying this lovely day! Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day Everyday!

I'm going to take a moment to say Happy Valentine's Day to each and every one of you!

This is a day to show those close to you how much they mean to you.  I'm going to take this post to tell you about my Grandma Harden.

The picture you see in this post is of the card she sent our family.  Inside that card was another letter, a letter very similar to the ones she sends all nine grandchildren almost every month.  She never forgets a birthday, a special day, or any other memorable moment to share the love she and Grandpa have for us.  I was reminded when we received this card how much those letters mean to me and all of us grandchildren.  She also sends them to our significant others and friends at times.  She is known all over the world for these letters.
If you know me well, you know I love cards......to make them, give them, and receive them.  I have many memories of times when family and friends have shared kind words and thoughts in a card or letter that have truly made my day.  A card to wish me luck on an exam, luck for a big project, memories of a good event, reminder to take in the special moments like "unpacking boxes for the first time in our new home", to say how much we are missed, and of course to say how much we are loved!  All of these cards/letters hold a special place in my heart and I want to encourage you this Valentine's Day to spread love and kind words everyday of the year, not just today.
You never know what a few kind words will mean to someone!

Happy Valentine's Day  <3