February 14, 2007
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My Valentine
Seventeen years ago today, these two got engaged.
Today, the tall, handsome one had a wonderful Valentine’s Day surprise for me. First of all, the roads were so miserable that Penn State University canceled all classes and office work. So, my dear husband got to spend the whole day at home with us. When I came down for breakfast, he had prepared a scavenger hunt. Hidden around the house were eight little, white envelopes with great clues.
For example, where would you have looked for the clue, “Every time I leave for work, I am reminded of the line, ‘Parting is such sweet sorrow.’–W.S.” First, I looked in the comb drawer (parting–get it?). I also checked the front door, his briefcase, all the candy areas, the sugar canister. Nope. Give up? It was in my Riverside Shakespeare on the correct page in the Romeo and Juliet play!Where would you have looked for, “I think your are such a deer wife and mother. Thank you for taking care of all of us.”
Every other envelope was in a blue gift bag along with one of these.
He is a wonderful man.Not to be left out, LibbyK had a treat for me as well. She actually bought me a heart-shaped box of chocolates!
And, she made me the initial pin. Little Miss made me the heart with the M.
Both girls made me nice cards. The boys, being boys, said, “Huh. Did
you get us anything?” I had–Little Debbie pink icing heart cupcakes.PS–The “deer wife” on was in the freezer with the venison.
Comments (43)
yay for boys!! hahahaha, but i don’t know many chicas who hate getting presents so they’ll havta figure it out eventually.
You two are so cute! Is the top picture a picture of the actual occasion? Mr. M and I are not very good at celebrating holidays, more like your boys. I will probably go to See’s tomorrow when it’s easier to get a parking space.
How romantic! =)
Happy Valentine’s to you, too!
AWWW! So fun and sweet!
What a guy, your husband. Hope all of you are feeling better and enjoyed the day. By the way, where in PA are you from? I was born in Sewickly Valley and lived in Sharon Hill Manor (just north of the old airport) until I was three. We moved to Florida then. But every summer we visited my grandparents who lived in Freeport, located north and east of Pittsburgh. My parents sold the old homestead and now live in Cabot. Someday I would love to live there again. It is truly a beautiful place to live.
P.S. The coconut lime verbenna is one of my favorites!
i was going to come here and wish you a happy valentine’s day… but it looks like it was already so wonderful.
you are blessed!
i just realized that i never got back to you about ballroom dancing. i do take some classes now and again, but what i really love most is just going dancing. you learn more on the actual dance floor than you ever do in a classroom. it’s just one of those learn-by-doing things, i suppose. anyway. i am madly in love with ballroom. the latin dances are my favorite… especially the tango and salsa/rhumba. but i love it all!
(and it’s EQUALLY fun to watch. the show was fantastic.)
Such a sweet post! Glad your day was blessed and filled with lovely surprises.
And thanks for the comment, too…
(I got cards for my mom and sister; didn’t even bother for my dad and brother. It took my brother over a month to read the one I gave him at Christmas!)
Glad you had such a wonderful day! We stayed home in all this snow and watched a Jeeves & Wooster – my new favorite comedy series, thanks to Laurie. Ever heard of them?
Love & glitter glue,
–K
I am impressed! you have quite the romantic husband.
And I presume the deer card was perched in the antlers of the trophy on the wall? 
Very sweet! By the way, we never lost power!
How sweet! I didn’t think of it till I read your post, Mike & I also got engaged on Valentine’s Day– but it was 21 years ago.
What a wonderful day you had! That is great that your husband did that. I’m glad you had a wonderful Valentine’s Day. I did too
What a sweet photo of the two of you! How nice that your husband put the thought and time into arranging a gift hunt for you! We did that once for my husband’s birthday. RYC: Thank you!
Wow! I’m impressed.
So…did the boys like their cupcakes?
Aw, shucks (turns red with embarrassment)… Actually, I had a blast watching you complete the hunt. But what I want to know is this… who is that thin guy in the photo? (Just kidding – I am just glad you were OK with my “growth” over the years.)
I hope you have a great day-after-Valentine’s Day!
TGDJ should teach classes on “how to be romantic”!
I don’t think “excited” is the proper word there…maybe something more extreme would do…
Awwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!
You guys were so cute in that old photo! (Not that I’m sure you aren’t cute now…)
I lived in London for 4 months in 2003 and definitely made the trip to Bath. It’s like the Mecca of Jane Austen fans.
I used to tell people -with a straight face- that I was Irish. I even have a “Kiss me, I’m Irish” shirt. After awhile, though, the irony wore off and now I’m back to just being annoyed. I always get hassled at borders when I’m with a group of my white friends, and that is a time when it’s more convenient to cut the cuteness.
Mary you havn’t changed at all over the years….glad you enjoyed your Valentine’s Day!
I do know. And I totally agree. I think that that is why most of us do not relate to the HS as well without a big effort. As people we need to humanize everything and this can not be brought to our level in the same way. I also agree that that is why it is rarely questioned as divine. If you believe it exists you would accept the spiritual nature.
LOVE the picture!
We hardly got anything and school was cancelled yesterday and today! It’s kind of nice though… How did you convince TGDJ to hold that flower between his teeth? I’m glad that you all got to spend the day together!
Mary,
You have a great family. God bless you
You look the same!! Beautiful!
Erin made cards for us all, Tara made little paper gifts (can’t figure out how to explain them…) and also gave candy, and I made cards for all.
Went to the Dr. for physicals and ortho appt. (same building, here in the little clinic on post)–the Dr. asked me if I had a date that night with my husband. I had no clue what she was talking about! THen later on, in the grocery store I remembered that it was V-Day!! DUH! I am so clueless–that’s what happens when you are focused on keeping 7 children’s hands off the chair’s arm rests in the waiting room–crazy–taking healthy kids to a place where UNhealthy people abound–and so what do I come home with? Pinkeye. Oh well. So far I’m the only one, hopefully it won’t spread!
Went to AWANAS, which was FULL of SUGAR HIGH CUBBIES–you can imagine what THAT was like!! LOL!
praying you are well–
Corrine
Little Debbies packs a pretty good “happy surprise punch” for a little price. RYC: Yes, I have tried some mercury detox therapies, including clay baths, but not to the extent the website recommends. It’s difficult to dispose of the water, it has to be scooped out of the tub. I do think mercury detox would be valuable. Like so many moms I saw a difference after the first vaccination, which at that time contained thimerusol, an ethyl mercury as a preservative. I think the mercury is a big reason for the increase in autism, the rates have increased right along with the number of vaccines that children receive. California saw a decrease in the reported rate of autism about two years after the thimerusol was taken out of vaccines, but the 6.6 per 1000 is in eight year olds. If thimerusol is a causative factor, those rates will go down in eight year olds in about five years. (The rates in other countries are much less, 5 in 10,000 in Denmark, I think, another reason we need to examine everything we do to young children here.) I think it might be worth putting a tub outside that doesn’t drain into the septic system. A little cedar bathhouse spa! I like it.
RYC again! I do hope you’ll watch at least Places of the Heart and the Japanese Shall We Dance. Another treat you have in store for you (if you haven’t seen it) is Enchanted April. I think it’s better than the ones I listed. Hugh Grant is in About a Boy, it may be a little off color.
How sweet! That was one nice thing about the snow. My husband was home all day too.
Je ne sais pas, à moins que ce soit toi!
Sincèrement,
Daniel
The scavenger hunt sounded so fun! It gives me lots of fun ideas to do with my girls (maybe I could even get my husband involved)
Why didn’t I see this yesterday??
Happy Engagement Anniversary! You’re both look so beautiful (esp. you!) and in love in your picture! What a gorgeous dress you have on! I remember that style/material and those low pumps…. they were my favorite. So feminine!
Awww! You’re family is so sweet! And you DO have just about the most romantic husband in the world (I’m so green right now!)! What a fun little “game” he set up for you! Love the tres modern heart-shaped box of chocolates and the pins, too! Glad you had a fun day! I did “not-a” for my poor husband on Valentine’s Day, but I did make a fabuous spaghetti dinner with all the fixin’s the night before….. does that count??
He got me 2 beautiful roses; one bright red and one deep red….. they are really pretty! I really wasn’t expecting anything, but was pleasantly surprised! I love surprises…. good ones, that is! ;D
Tonight, I raided the girls candy bowl and ate some of their chocolate booty! I “needed” it! ;P Now I’m waiting for my husband to get home from a long “day trip” for work. He left at 4:45am to go to Columbus and he just called a few minutes ago to say he has a flat tire and is about 1 & 1/2 hours away (not including a tire change)…… POOOH!! Yesterday, he was gone all day ’til late, too…… so not fun!! I’m going “stir crazy”, here! Don’t mean to complain, just a little bored! Talk to ya later!
I’m back to correct my previous entry……. my husband was not as close as I thought he was….. he’s now 2 hours drive time (at the very least) from home, and still needs to change his tire. I guess it’s not completely flat and he’s been driving around Bowling Green, OH trying to find a place to get the tire fixed…. unsuccessfully. Am I whining??
Yes, I know I am. Just pray for him to get the tire fixed or that the “doughnut” will last ’til he gets home!! Thanks!
I liked Never Been Kissed too. And as far as Hugh Grant goes, he’s pretty darn charming in M&L. The only other thing I’ve liked him in was Sense and Sensibility.
hard to pick a fav., but if I must than Sir Gareth/Beaumains would top the list as would Tristan and Isolde. I don’t know! I love them all. lAdy Elaine is very close to my heart. What about you? Sir Gwain is a fav. with the kids.
Thanks for praying!
Oh, what a sweet picture! Sounds like you had a fun day.
What fun…we have done that for Christmas presents before… I love scavenger hunts. It does take a lot of thought to write up the clues.
Thanks for sharing your special day!
I love that photo of you and your husband with the roses in your mouths. Sweet and romantic… I’m glad you like to quilt too! Maybe you’ll find some time soon- or in the summer…. if you’re like me you keep busy with the kids.
Oh, that’s so sweet! RYC: We actually have given each of our children a picture of that very verse! http://kingdomgalleries.safeshopper.com/139/1203.htm?626
What a wonderful Valentines Day surprise. I’m so glad I stumbled onto your site…please stop by and visit mine sometime. Blessings. Susan
There are so many Romeo and Juliets. Any particular one you love?
Did you really just get 41 other comments? WOW! And yes, your hubs is very romantic!
Hello again, Mary… I live in Enola, PA which is on the west shore of Harrisburg (between Harrisburg and Carlisle on I 81). I teach at the local high school. I feel your pain about only having two “shovelers.” Hopefully your kiddos are feeling better! Blessings…Susan