True Love is....

....buying your wife a vacuum for Valentine's day!

Now, in all fairness to my better half, he really is good at the hearts and flowers stuff. This year though, we just returned from a special trip together, where there was plenty of dining out and even candlelight. Truth is, by the time we returned, we were both ready for some home-cooked food. So, we chose to have a quiet (really?!?! with 4 girls!?!?!) meal at home. I made pepperoni pizza crescent rolls and BLT pasta salad. We drank our strawberry CRUSH, and Kalli folded the napkins into heart shapes! =)
For dessert, we made S'mores bars and added Valentine sprinkles.

Daddy brought home special Valentine cards for all his girls! I hope your day was special, too!

Your Valentine.

Some say that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons, where they were often beaten and tortured. According to one legend, an imprisoned Valentine actually sent the first "valentine" greeting himself after he fell in love with a young girl--possibly his jailor's daughter--who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter signed "From your Valentine," an expression that is still in use today.

I made Valentine eggs for the family this morning.In hubby's lunch, I placed some of his favorite candies and snacks adding notes that went along with them. "I love you to PIECES" (ReesePieces.) Gum: "I'm stuck on you!" Nuts: "Nuts about you!" Jerky "I'd be a JERK not to love you!"

On the bar in my kitchen, I decorated my little tray will all things Valentine, from the Strawberry CRUSH to the owl saying, "Wooo loves you?" The lips photo frame holds a picture of hubby and I at the White House. I thought that was the most appropriate photo since it also says "dangerous" on the bottom of the frame.The Valentines the girls gave out to friends.

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In his message Sunday, my husband mentioned that Valentine’s is considered a Christian holiday or event, by most religions. The Muslim religion forbids the celebrating of Valentine’s Day. In Saudi Arabia (and many other locations) the authorities search local shops a week prior, making sure that there are no roses, stuffed animals or even red items. Buying or selling red during this time is punishable by large fines.
In the text of a sermon provided by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) titled “Awas jerat Valentine” (Beware Valentine’s trap), Muslims were told that asking someone to be his or her “Valentine” could lead to idolatry.
In the Muslim religion, the only “legal love” is that directed toward Allah. To quote a Muslim scholar directly, “Basic love is not permissible outside of devotion to Jihad.”They forbid the use of the very word, “Valentine,” since it’ latin origin means “most powerful.” What I would like to ask, is this... “What is wrong with my spouse being the most powerful (outside of God, of course) in my heart?”
The text of a second optional sermon prepared by the Federal Territory Islamic Department (Jawi), titled “Butakah Cinta?” (Is love blind?), likened celebrating the global day of romance to celebrating the anniversary of “Islam’s fall at the hands of Christians”. According the Muslim religion, Valentine’s Day promotes vice activities, such as honoring one’s sweetheart. Wow! Vice activities, huh?!?!
None of this is surprising really, seeing how female Muslims are treated with less respect than dogs. They are unable to vote, drive, show their faces in public, or hold hands. They are not loved as Christ loved the church, but used, abused, (both sexually and physically) and even slain by their husbands for one wrong move. She is beaten if her ankles are shown, and if she is seen talking to a person of another faith, she is murdered to “preserve honor in the family.” Her service to her husband is not out of love, but slavery.
In some liberated areas, “Love Guerillas” are waging a war FOR love and expressions of romance. Valentine’s gifts are even sold on the “black market.” One interesting study showed that when this freedom is won, these people do not take it lightly. Even in liberated Muslim chat rooms, decadence and lightness is not popular, but instead a sincere attempt to connect in true love and faithfulness.
Much blame is placed on women today (even in our churches) for the actions of men, but when a man loves his wife as Christ loved the church, that love does not often go unrequited. Being loved of God and loving Him, only makes your heart bigger and causes you to love your spouse more. Where Muslims see a love so limited that it is in danger and threatened, God multiplies His love again and again...the more we love the more capacity we have for love and loving.
May we Christians not take lightly the example of love given us by our Lord. It really is simple, He loved us and gave himself for us; for that, we love Him back with a deep respect for all that He has done. No better example of love can be found for a husband and wife, for the children or for a lost world.

International Spy Museum

The International Spy Museum in Washington DC is the only public museum in the United States solely dedicated to the tradecraft, history, and contemporary role of espionage. Open since July 2002 and in development since 1996, the museum features the largest collection of international espionage artifacts ever placed on public display – many have never been seen by the public. These artifacts – from a 1777 letter by George Washington authorizing a New York spy network to a 1980s coat with a camera concealed in a button – bring to life the people and techniques behind some of the most influential espionage actions in world history.

We had just a few hours to spend on our last morning in DC and we chose to visit the International Spy Museum. It is one of the few museums in DC that charges and entrance fee, but I was able to find a special Valentine's Day coupon online titled "Love a Spy." This might surprise you, but I really have an interest in espionage. Maybe it comes from being good at hiding my feelings, I'm not sure. I like to observe people--covertly of course--and often form opinions about them, which for some reason often prove true. For example, in the airport in DC, I noticed a young girl with pink hair....I know...you're thinking, "Who wouldn't notice?" Well, let me tell you, in some areas of our country, it's nothing out of the ordinary. What I also noticed was that her hair was evidently recently dyed because some of the pink was on her sweater. I remember thinking, "She is going to cause some sort of 'incident' on our flight." For that reason, I took special notice of her seating. She became violently ill during flight and a doctor was called for from the passengers. I doctor on ground was contacted as well, and it was decided that she would be okay--we would not have to land in Chicago. Whew! Now honestly....I wondered if she was really sick or if it was just a diversion for somethin bigger that was planned....but we arrived safely in Salt Lake where paramedics met our plane. Okay, I confess....I have a suspicious mind sometimes, but just in case I'm right---be careful, I am watching you! =)