Happy Valentine's Day

      I just want to take a minute to say to my friends and family that I truly love you all. I am not one to show how I feel except to my mom and dad, Don, and of course my baby girls. But so many people I know have touched my life. My friend Leenie for example. I miss her a lot. She lives in Florida now and I am in Virginia so we don't ever get to meet. Leenie is very outgoing so she has a lot of friends. God has blessed her with such a positive and joyful spirit and an unshakable faith. She has some real stress in her life but her joy is contagious to all who know her. Her children are blessed to have her in her life. (Though I am glad she is not having anymore...man does she cry a lot when she is pregnant:) She will laugh at that, because she knows its so true.
    I have three sisters and a brother. Two of my sisters have passed away. The oldest, Donna and I had a real connection. She was like another mom to me in many ways. But even better. I believe much of my confidence was instilled in me by Donna. No matter what I did, Donna thought it was great. When I made something for her she was always so touched. She made me feel special. There are no words really to explain how she fed love and caring into my spirit. Later in life when someone would treat me poorly, I had the confidence to stand up for myself. I remember cancelling a date with my boyfriend in high school when he came slightly drunk to pick me up. I told him if he had to drink to go out with me then I did not want to go out with him. I may have had no confidence walking down the high school hallway, but it came out when push came to shove. I love and miss Donna every day of my life.
   I have always been close with my mom and dad. Mom and dad have always done the best they could for us kids. They loved me unconditionally. They have always been here for me, no matter what. I think that is the most important part of parenting. Hopefully I have loved my children as well as they love me.
    My sister Judy is the sister I am closest to in age. Growing up I always looked up to her, but honestly we really had nothing much to do with each other. As we grew into adults I always wished we were closer but for most of our lives we have been very different. In the past few years we have gotten much closer. I always admired how easily she makes friends and always has people to go out and do things with. My inherent shyness often keeps me at a distance from people. I am thankful that God gives us second chances with people. Even though we really never "got" each other when we were younger we love and get each other better now. I love my sister and hope that we have so many more years to share our lives together.
     Then there is my husband Don. We have had a tough life together, really. But sticking with a person through thick and thin has its consequences. You get a real unconditional love for each other. You become friends. I can't really imagine life without my husband. My prayer is that now that we have worked out the bumps, that we have many healthy years ahead to enjoy the smoother road we are traveling.
     I don't have words to say about my girls. They know I love them fiercely. I am like the momma bear that just wants to protect them from all of life's ills. But because I can not do that I just have to trust God with them and cover them with prayer. If I go to say more about them this blog will be waaaaay to long. Just suffice it to say that Hannah and Sarah are amazing young women. Each love Jesus as their Lord and Savior. So in that respect I know I taught them something well. Each are in different places in their journey, but to me as long as they are on the journey with Him I know they will be ok.
    Don't think for a minute I forgot about Kevin. I love him and think about him daily. I pray for him all the time. When Don talks with him he tells me all about what Kevin is up to. But for some reason I want to call and see how he doing etc... but I just don't.  Its back to that inner shyness. (Probably why when going to CT I call people at the last minute.) I hope Kevin knows how much I love him. Wish he lived closer, I miss seeing him and just hanging out together as a family.
   I can not mention any more people for fear of leaving someone out. My husbands family has become my own. In many ways I have a closeness with them that I don't have with my extended family. I do think and pray for my aunts and uncles often. I am getting some new friends entering my life in VA that I am thankful for, as well as my CT friends that I miss. I look forward to my summer visits, even if its a short visit because I get to reconnect with my former Northville and Assembly "family".
    So on this Valentine's Day I am thankful for those I love and for those who love me. I am most thankful to my Savior. If I have not said it yet today, I am thankful Lord for the day you saved me. I pray for those reading this, that you will encounter the perfect love that only comes from our Creator.