It's the BIG I Love You Day!

I want to share the WEBSITE I MADE, oh how many years ago?

"O Holy Night" plays on the start page. I love, love this Christmas song! It brings tears to my eyes when I sing it.

My heart I gave to Jesus Christ when I was young and after realizing how much He loved me. It was then that I began a lifetime of learning how to love Him in return; even learning how to be faithful ---loving Him, loving my husband, loving my family.

I had graduated from eighth grade and it was time for all kids my age to go away to attend high school. I had applied to the same high school that my older sister, Millie and two older brothers, Don and Toby, were going to. It was a Bible-based boarding school. I was accepted but there was not any room for me. I waited on pins and needles right up until the plane scheduled to take my older siblings away landed to hear if anyone else had dropped out of attending the school and there was one more bed available. But nope. I stood and watched the plane get smaller and smaller as they flew off to school without me.

Dad said that I should go to Kodiak to go to high school. I balked at that idea. Graciously Mom and Dad remained quiet about the whole situation. I ended up staying at home that year. I think that it was hard for them to send off another child. That had to be so tough on village families then!

Someone (I still don't know to this day who it was), concerned about me being at home, not attending school and probably wondering what I would be busying myself with sent me a correspondence Bible study. It was on the life of Christ. There was a short reading, encouragement to read God's Word, then a quiz to complete. Upon completion of each lesson I folded it up, stuck a stamp on it and mailed it out. About a week later I would get it back with a golden star, a note from Rose Nabinger with a new lesson to complete.

I did it. I would read, I would read. The more I read the hungrier my heart became.

As I read about Jesus Christ in the Gospels and how He had died, my heart was overwhelmed with how much He had loved me. He endured such beatings, and spitting. I had several encounters of being spit on while I was young and that made such an impression on me ---that He endured being spit on! It is so humiliating.

I had always considered myself a "Christian" because ---my parents were! My parents were ostracized because of it. (Old Harbor is a strong Russian Orthodox village.) Even though the village is RO and that church's foundational beliefs are Christian, at that time the attitudes and actions of the people were not Christian towards my parents.

My Dad had been the lay reader of the church and had challenged the church's stand on venerating the icons (pictures) inside the church. My parents spoke with the church leader Targonsky. Finally, Dad and Mom ended up making a decision that they could not continue to attend the church when the people that they loved were encouraged to cross themselves, kneel down and kiss the icons. Their decision was not made lightly.

The result of all that for us kids? The other kids in the village spewed out the words they were hearing at home, "Christian!" "Missionary!" So I THOUGHT ---that is what I am. As I read the Bible and the studies, I soon realized that I was responsible for myself, that I personally had to choose to believe or not to believe. I could not gain Heaven on the merits of my parents, but only on believing God's word myself.

When I was fourteen, I knelt beside my bed and cried. Cried for I had just realized how much God loved an insignificant little girl. I prayed and told Him that I did believe that He was God's Son. I believed all that God's Word said. His Peace overwhelmed my heart that night! At that moment, I knew it was the Truth because the Holy Spirit in my heart confirmed it. I realize that Peace was the Holy Spirit entering my heart ever so gently, ever so triumphantly - never overbearingly.

I am thankful. This is the greatest Valentine story of love.

Because of His love abiding in me --- I can love too.

My home website speaks of Doug's love for me, I thought it would be a good thing to share today. My other loves are there too... my children. I hope that you will have the time to stop by that website for a visit with myself and my family. CLICK HERE.

I hope you have an especially great day - determining once again to faithfully love those around you - God has blessed you.

Speaking About Valentine's

Got this video in email. Right now the hot topic is Valentine's and relationships between men and women, it really relates. It's a beer commercial --- but it's funny. See if you think that it illustrates some possible reasons why it was decided that man needed help ---so woman was made.

The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him. Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman, for she was taken out of man." For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. "Genesis 2:18-24.

Somebody... help the man. hehehe

Marriage Monday!

Marriage Monday at C H R Y S A L I S

The topic is Valentine's Day and I have decided to share my most memorable one. A first confession, I don't even remember which Valentine's Day! So much for that part of MEMORABLE!

My husband Doug readily agrees that he always needs to be prompted in order to remember to remember special occasions. Sometimes I will purchase a bouquet of flowers and then say to him as I smell them, "You are so sweeeeet! I love my flowers." Like my son's wife always says, "Everyday is Valentine's Day for us." I do say the same for my marriage relationship too.

BUT about three years ago (already), Doug totally floored me when he planned out a special evening and night for us on Valentine's Day and all without "prompting" from me. I will never forget it. (My daughter Marie helped him.)

He called me to say, "I'm on my way home, be ready to go for a car ride." (I love going on car rides.) He said to pack an overnight bag for both of us. "Oooooo!" So I did. He got home from work, showered, we left and began to head North.

It was snowing so hard that evening that we could barely tell which side of the road we were on. I kept my nervous mouth shut, tried to remain as happy... and loving as I could under the scary circumstances. I didn't want to spoil the night with fearful outbursts!

Big ol' trucks would zoom past and blow snow up all over our car and each time I thought for sure that we were going to die. I quietly wondered where and how far we would have to be traveling.

A long hour and a half later we turned off onto the Talkeetna Spur Road then he began searching the highway for the right roads leading to the Talkeetna Chalet Bed and Breakfast and the room (Denali) which he had reserved for us.

Wow, Doug, how cool! He does not do stuff like this so I was quite impressed (except for the heavy snowfall highway ride). We found the right place despite the heavy snowfall. I got out of the car so relieved to be there and in one piece even!

We checked out the room and even found chocolate-dipped fresh strawberries in the refrigerator! We decided to begin our evening together with the hot tub! We walked out the door, across the deep snowy yard, took off our robes, and climbed into the hot tub.

Big, beautiful snowflakes fell and melted on our faces as we looked up into the sky. This felt so good! After about an hour we were relaxed, hot and ready to get out. We reached for our robes and found them all crusty with snow and frozen! BRRR! We kept laughing and sinking back into the water before finally braving the cold, grabbing our robes and running back to our room.

After showering, getting dried and comfy we began to search the full movie shelf. We wanted one that would be fun/romantic to watch. I saw a Jack Nicholson movie and said, "Oh he is so funny, let's watch this, About Schmidt - it's says something about retirement." (We were interested since Doug had been talking about his eventual retirement, we hoped soon.) Doug didn't care, "Whatever you want to watch is fine with me" (his standard reply to the question). So, I put the movie in and we climbed under the warm covers.

The movie wasn't funny. It was sad. Soon we thought - "it is depressing." We continued to watch it. Soon his wife ----died! I laughed and looked at Doug and said, "Oh dear, not too romantic is it?" Too late, we were commited to finding out what would happen to Schmidt in his retirement years.

I believe this has been a great adventure and wake up call to many Americans as to what is important in life and why we should cherish every moment of it. ~A movie watchers comment.

It ended up being a good movie to watch together; a good reminder to value each other and the times that we still have together. It was sad, but it made us thankful that we were still able to be together. We were reminded of the more important things in life; how we need to value our husband-wife relationship; value the joy of our children. We did not want to forget that it is these things that bring lasting satisfaction in life. People should not waste whole lifetimes only pursuing financial wealth (although that is necessary) but to keep chasing after a wealthy trust in each other, a lasting relationship, and even the joy of keeping a rich love relationship kindled with each other and our family. These are far more important than riches. The emptiness of the end of a relationship via death is coming and we should value what we have together now.

Even if I can't remember the exact year ---I won't ever forget that evening together and the values that were impressed upon our hearts.

Thanks so much Dougie, and thanks for the "About Schmidt" movie, Jack Nicholson (a favorite actor of mine). Jack Nicholson's new movie "The Bucket List," is another good-values instilling movie! I watched it at Century 16 recently with my daughters Marie and Kim.

Be sure to visit e-Mom for more Valentine's Day related stories and information from other blogging friends.