February & St. Valentine Decor

Do you know the history of St. Valentine's Day?

Similar to St. Patrick's Day, it is now celebrated in the secular realm.  It is primarily celebrated with cards, chocolates, roses and romantic meals...and all these exchanges occur with your special someone, your love, your spouse or friends or children.

Cupid is also a symbol of the sweetheart day.  In Latin, cupid means Amor or Love.  Roman and Greek methology have a Cupid and Eros.

In Holy Scripture, Angels (or messengers) are mentioned several times.  And in Summa Theologica, St. Thomas Aquinas describes the Nine Choirs of Angels.
Catholic Online describes them very nicely here.

Angels and cherubs are scattered throughout my home, not just in February, but all year long.  I love them.

I remember exchanging Valentine Cards in grade school.  It was both fun and embarrassing for me at the same time.

This year, I received this little card from an acquaintance at my parish.  It was such a kind and sweet gesture.  I admit I was a little annoyed when she passed the cards (one each for my daughters as well) to me, because it was seconds before Mass was to begin.

Once I saw what was gifted to me and my loved ones, I was humbled and struck with a certain joy.

Sometimes, little acts of kindness can melt a hardened heart.

"In the silence of the heart, God speaks..."   ~ St. Mother Teresa

Anyway, now that February is at its final day...I extend to you all a very Happy VALentine's....From: Me  To:  YOU!

XO,

I {heart} Valentine's Day

Joining Like Mother, Like Daughter for some pretty, happy, funny and real times...

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

&

Wise Woman Linkup

{pretty}

Every year we take a moment to celebrate our saints during the month of February...including (but in no way limited to):  St. Blaise, St. Scholastica, and St. Valentine.  St. Valentine's Day falls on a Sunday this year...four days after Ash Wednesday or after the Lenten season begins.  So I am decorating with Purple Hearts for February and the liturgical season.  I just happened to have these decortions in my decor box.  Simple and perfect.

~ Love is... ~

Butterfly created a Valentine for an assignment in her Spanish Class;

I thought it was lovely and very creative!
Can you see the message of Love...Charity...Caridad?

I thought I would create something for the day, too...

Blue Berry Muffins with Valentine Heart Icing...Healthy Heart with a taste of Sweetness.

Small things done with great LOVE

I added fresh blueberries, walnuts and Ghirardelli's 60% bittersweet cacao chips to the recipe...The muffins came out delicious!

The fresh roses were a gift, from my hubby...he always remembers. xoxoxox

For God so loVed the world

      That He gAve 

             his onLy begotten Son,

   that whosoEver

    believeth iN Him

     should noT

                  parIsh but have

       everlastiNg

                   lifE

~ John 3:16

A VERY BLESSED ST. VALENTINE'S DAY TO ALL!

Valentine's Days of the past...
2012:  The Language of Love & St. Valentine's Day
2013:  My Love &  An Agreeably Argumentative Opinion
2014:  Happy St. Valentine's Day

~ Happy St. Valentine's Day ~

I was on time this year, when putting out my Valentine décor, because last year I was a little too early for some.

Planning ahead to make the actual day a little more special.  Nothing fancy, just thoughtful.   Enough to bring smiles and thanks of appreciation from my children.  I brought out items that I use every year, and even put out a few 'sweet' items.

Again, I was surprised with a bouquet of love gift from my husband.  :o)  Although, this year it also included Butterfly and Little Lamb.  So sweet.

The love bug infectiously caused a chain reaction and love notes began appearing...

Little Lamb worked on making the Valentine napkin holders found in the silk heart.

Before

After

She decorated short-bread cookies & pumpkin cupcakes; while the rest of us helped eat them.

So who was St. Valentine and why do we celebrate like we do?

St. Valentine was a Priest, martyred in 269.  He is the patron saint of affianced couples, bee keepers, engaged couples, epilepsy, fainting, greetings, happy marriages, love, lovers, plague, travelers, young people.
In 496 AD Pope Gelasius I marked February 14th as a celebration in honor of St. Valentine's martyrdom.  Archaeologists unearthed a Roman catacomb and an ancient church dedicated to St. Valentine was discovered. 

And Cupid?

He is one of the gods in Roman mythology; from the latin word cupido which translates to love & passion.  In our Western Culture he is symbol of love & romance. 
I think he is a little like Santa Claus...turning things towards commercialism and secularism.

St. Valentine's Day is about the life of a saint - a priest and martyr.  He was martyred for marrying Christian couples and for not acknowledging the Roman emperor as a living deity.  I can see how the meaning of Valentine's Day took a change to celebrate romance - especially in married couples. 
So, do you celebrate St. Valentine's Day...and how?

Which reminds me, St. Patrick's Day will soon be here...

Hoping you had a LOVEly St. Valentine's Day


Linking up to Catholic Bloggers Network ~ Family Journal

~ My Love ~

HAPPY ST. VALENTINE'S DAY to all...
It's pretty quiet for us this year since we have already begun the Lenten season.  Nothing like LAST YEAR.

However, as I was waiting in the car for my husband to return from picking up a few grocery items LAST WEEK...this falls on my lap:

smart (camera) phones - handy!

It was such a surprise and so sweet and thoughtful.  I was completely caught off guard.  One week early! 
The roses still look lovely today...

and the thought will still be lovely tomorrow...

I'm OK if my sweet-heart brings me home a BIG BOX of CHOCOLATES today...



but I won't hold my breath.  LOL.

~ An Agreeably Argumentative Opinion ~

Me:  "How do you like the Valentine decorations that I put up?"

Little Lamb:  "Mom, it's too early."

Me:  Well, I like to have them out on the 1st of February."

Little Lamb:  "Is Valentine's Day on the 1st?"  (knowing full well it is not)

Me:  No; But I like to have the decorations out on the 1st and through the entire month of February to get the most out of my efforts.  And since I'm putting away the Christmas decorations, it's easy to pull out the St. Valentine decorations.  Does that make sense?"

Little Lamb:  "No."

Me:  "Oh!  You are just being sassy."

Little Lamb:  "I'm not being sassy; It's just my opinion."

Me:  lol.  "You're not being opinionated, you're being argumentative."

Little Lamb:  OK, then, I'm argumentative to help you!"

:o)

That's what I call an agreeably argumentative opinion (aka sassy).  Although, it is a little earlier than I like to put out my St. Valentine's decor...