
Valentine's Day is not a big deal for us. In fact, it wasn't even this year. Ron went to an event with a buddy most of the day. I stayed home, did laundry, enjoyed quiet time, took Tanner for a walk, etc. What? Not spend Valentine's Day together?
Well, he was home for a couple hours. I gave him a card and some Hershey kiss roses that were sold as a Haiti fund-raiser at work. He started a fire in our fireplace and we just finished watching a movie together. Now he is off again to another buddy's house...something about snowmobiles.


This post is not actually about Valentine's Day. It is about my loving husband who surprises me with things all the time. You remember the "Just Because Day" post. Well, here is one more example of other times that Ron does stuff "just because."
The sculpture you see was another of Ron's inspired garage creations. He doesn't plan stuff out. Like an artist, he creates when inspired. The sculpture is made from three gears and a hollow metal ball. He surprised me with it a few weeks ago.
Of course, I had to add my feminine touch to it. I noticed the ball had a hole in one end...hmmm...a vase? Definitely! Worked in with some other accessories, it is a mix of space-age and traditional materials.

The point of this post is not to focus on gifts themselves. It is to share the meaning of the gifts and the deep, respectful love they represent. The gear sculpture cost nothing. It was made with scrap pieces from the garage. The thing is...I love it, because it was created and/or given to me with one intention...to express my husband's love for me.
There are many other expressions of love. I remember reading "The Five Love Languages" many years ago. It's helped me to see that people give and show love differently. With that understanding, I could list hundreds of ways my husband expresses how much he loves me on daily basis. Besides saying "I love you" and giving gifts, even mundane things, such as lawn mowing, snow shoveling, and vehicle maintenance, are expressions of love. I know that when I do things around the house, I am also telling him that I love him, too.

Now, I am many things, but a relationship doctor or love expert is not one of them. Many people wonder how Ron and I can be so different yet stay together. He is an extrovert who loves engines and being always on the go. I am an introvert (believe it or not) who loves silent sports (no engines) and having quiet time. I am the thinker, he is the doer. The opposites thing works for us. What counts is that we share important core values, mutual respect, and an ever-deepening love for one another. Everything else works itself out.

So, today I know that I am loved. I know I married a wonderful man who knows how to love me. In that, I am content.
Yep. And THAT is what it is all about! Being. Soaking in...slowly, perfectly. I know this same feeling 21 years later.
ReplyDeleteBest heart day to you!
What a beautiful post...
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see your house tour next week!
Danielle
Well put my dear!
ReplyDeleteYou are one lucky woman!
ReplyDeleteI know where you're coming from...I think the more Valentine moments you have during the year the less need you have for the trappings of a commercialized holiday that tries to celebrate Love...
ReplyDeleteWhat a lucky woman you are. The fact that you appreciate what you have makes it even more special!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a neat post for today. So glad you shared it with us and that you have such a loving marriage.
ReplyDeleteMaggie
Great post! The Five Love Languages is a very good book. Mindy and I speak each other's primary love language fluently but we actually use all five.
ReplyDeleteThe sculpture is way cool!
Congrats to both of you! You're an inspiration!
Beautiful post - and so true! V-Day is 1/365th of every year. Loving someone means showing it way more often than that...in very many ways. Here's to happy couplehood all year round, year after year!
ReplyDeleteI love just because gifts. It means more to me because it is not expected. I love surprises and I love gifts...but I am just as happy with a pack of my favorite gum as a bouquet of flowers. It truly is the thought.
ReplyDeleteA great guy PLUS one that works with metal. Some girls have all the luck. :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your wonderful life!
Donna
That ball thing? That's CRAZY awesome!
That sculpture is awesome. That man of yours has got some serious talent. And talent in wooing his girl too! Lucky woman!
ReplyDelete"Just because" That's what my wife said when I asked her why she loved me.
ReplyDeleteYou can't beat that kind of logic.
Great post. Thanks for sharing, and thanks for visiting my blog.
Beautiful post (and earrings!). I am also lucky enough to have my "opposite". ;-)
ReplyDeleteHappy Valentine's Day!
Love this post Amy, and what a tribute to a beautiful couple sharing the love and joys on a daily basis, "just because". If more couples would take this lead, I do belive we'd have a healthier nation overall. The gear gift is very cool and love the sparklies as well. You two are blessed to have each other.
ReplyDeleteMy bf, Carolyn, just read that book while in Mexico and loved it too. It was years ago when I first read it, but could use a brush up on what it said and do a little more of the "just because" myself. Thanks for the inspiration to be a better mate. ;-)
See you on Friday...
Gretchen
What a sweet post! What a sweet husband! ERGO What a sweetie you are! The universe gives back what you put out there...and it shows! My husband always takes care of me, but especially on show weekends. Dinner. Laundry. Grocery shopping. Martini poured upon entering the door. We are lucky, yes? xoox
ReplyDeletePerfectly said Amy!!! You are one lucky gal!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful way to explain the respect and love the two of you share. Truly sweet.
ReplyDeleteLife is good and we are blessed.
Thank you for your blog!
Isn't that wonderful? I feel the same way too...but it has been a long time coming for me. I am so grateful. smiles.
ReplyDeleteOoh. I've never read that one. Sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteAnd that gear sculture is definitely lovely!! :-)
Your relationship sounds a lot like mine. My husband is much like yours and I am more like you and it works for us. I couldn't imagine a more perfect match for me. : )
ReplyDeleteBeautiful earrings, you are a lucky, lucky girl!
How beautiful. My husband isn't a fan of Valentine's Day. He says he shows his love for me everyday. And you know what? He does!
ReplyDelete