Yesterday, I had the privilege of accidentally happening upon my parents' Valentine's Day. It was the most beautiful thing I have witnessed in recent memory. ~ <3 ~
First of all, my mom's neighbor took her out for dinner at the Mexican restaurant that is actually right behind their living community. She told my mom that she needs out of the house (which is so true). There are several widowed women on the street who know nearly (if not exactly) what my parents are going through right now. I am so grateful to this precious woman for that beautiful gesture. It was great that my mom got to have a short period of time to just 'be'.
When my mom is out to run errands, my sisters and I take turns calling my dad. They have an emergency plan set in place, of course, but it is a comfort to us to hear his voice and to know that he is doing alright.
I took my turn and spoke with my dad. Later, I took an additional turn to call, just in case my mom wasn't home yet. She was home and answered the phone. :) We chatted for a while. She told me about lunch with her kindly neighbor/friend. I talked to her about the girls and something silly I had read online. In the background, I suddenly heard my dad speak.
Dad: "There it is!"
Mom: "What? Did you get me something?"
Dad: "Happy Valentine's Day, Babe."
AWWWWWWWWWWWW!!! It was pretty evident that a knock had come to the door. I said goodbye and hung up the phone as quickly as possible so they could have their privacy. :)
Around half an hour later, it was killing me! lol What had come to the door?!?!? I had to know! haha I hoped that I wasn't intruding and called them back. My mom answered the phone again, her hands in the sink with the roses she was cutting to put in a vase. I was so delighted for her!
She told me that his card to her read that each petal of every rose contained a kiss from him. One fell, and she sounded genuinely sad when she said, "Oh no! There goes another petal!" She confirmed this, telling me that five sweet petals had fallen off and about broken her heart. She doesn't want to lose *any* of my dad's kisses. That was so touching it broke my own heart a little bit. :(
I asked her if she would take a picture of her flowers and candy. I also wondered if her neighbor might pop over again to take a picture of her and dad together for Valentine's Day. The truth is, my sisters and I are hyper-aware that it may be their last Valentine's Day together. We want to have pictures of everything these days, you know?
Mom didn't think she was dressed well enough for a photo together. I suggested taking a selfie instead, pointing out that it could just be their faces. That is a funny idea because my parents have never taken a selfie! What followed next made my entire day! haha
My mom left the phone on speaker, setting it down so she could try to figure out how to take a selfie with my dad. I could hear them laughing and trying to get situated! She has to sit very carefully near him, of course. Balancing that with trying to learn how to hold the phone out carefully and take a photo was a whole new experience!
Oh, she giggled like a schoolgirl! My heart became lighter and more joyful with every single giggle! The laughter was punctuated by the happy chirping of my tablet: notifications of pictures received from them. Each picture widened my smile and added to my own joy! I was grinning like an idiot in no time! haha
The phone call wasn't terribly long but it was so sweet. I hopped off once I had received the pictures and they had given up on getting the perfect shot. To me, every single one was absolute perfection! I left my parents to their laughter, roses, and Mint Meltaways from Fannie May.
Hubs and I celebrated our Valentine's Day last weekend. Yesterday was 'just another day', for what it was worth. That said, thanks to these two peeks into my parents' home, I got to witness what I would have to describe what was the *most* beautiful Valentine! <3 <3 <3
Some couples don't get to make it to 'til death do us part'. My parents do. It is tragic, in some ways. However, it is also intensely rich, powerful, and beautiful. Love like theirs, which has been tried in the fires of life repeatedly (and which has survived and thrived), is something special, indeed.
Thank you, Mom and Dad, for being this beautiful testimony of love that doesn't quit. Thank you for exemplifying the principle that love works - very hard sometimes - to keep going. Thank you for proving that 'til death do us part' is still more than "just words" on "just a paper". Your love and commitment have been inspiring. Your dedication has been witnessed. Your love story will not go untold. <3
We have started a GoFundMe Campaign on my dad's behalf. Please consider sharing it on social media.
First of all, my mom's neighbor took her out for dinner at the Mexican restaurant that is actually right behind their living community. She told my mom that she needs out of the house (which is so true). There are several widowed women on the street who know nearly (if not exactly) what my parents are going through right now. I am so grateful to this precious woman for that beautiful gesture. It was great that my mom got to have a short period of time to just 'be'.
When my mom is out to run errands, my sisters and I take turns calling my dad. They have an emergency plan set in place, of course, but it is a comfort to us to hear his voice and to know that he is doing alright.
I took my turn and spoke with my dad. Later, I took an additional turn to call, just in case my mom wasn't home yet. She was home and answered the phone. :) We chatted for a while. She told me about lunch with her kindly neighbor/friend. I talked to her about the girls and something silly I had read online. In the background, I suddenly heard my dad speak.
Dad: "There it is!"
Mom: "What? Did you get me something?"
Dad: "Happy Valentine's Day, Babe."
AWWWWWWWWWWWW!!! It was pretty evident that a knock had come to the door. I said goodbye and hung up the phone as quickly as possible so they could have their privacy. :)
Around half an hour later, it was killing me! lol What had come to the door?!?!? I had to know! haha I hoped that I wasn't intruding and called them back. My mom answered the phone again, her hands in the sink with the roses she was cutting to put in a vase. I was so delighted for her!
She told me that his card to her read that each petal of every rose contained a kiss from him. One fell, and she sounded genuinely sad when she said, "Oh no! There goes another petal!" She confirmed this, telling me that five sweet petals had fallen off and about broken her heart. She doesn't want to lose *any* of my dad's kisses. That was so touching it broke my own heart a little bit. :(
I asked her if she would take a picture of her flowers and candy. I also wondered if her neighbor might pop over again to take a picture of her and dad together for Valentine's Day. The truth is, my sisters and I are hyper-aware that it may be their last Valentine's Day together. We want to have pictures of everything these days, you know?
Mom didn't think she was dressed well enough for a photo together. I suggested taking a selfie instead, pointing out that it could just be their faces. That is a funny idea because my parents have never taken a selfie! What followed next made my entire day! haha
My mom left the phone on speaker, setting it down so she could try to figure out how to take a selfie with my dad. I could hear them laughing and trying to get situated! She has to sit very carefully near him, of course. Balancing that with trying to learn how to hold the phone out carefully and take a photo was a whole new experience!
Oh, she giggled like a schoolgirl! My heart became lighter and more joyful with every single giggle! The laughter was punctuated by the happy chirping of my tablet: notifications of pictures received from them. Each picture widened my smile and added to my own joy! I was grinning like an idiot in no time! haha
The phone call wasn't terribly long but it was so sweet. I hopped off once I had received the pictures and they had given up on getting the perfect shot. To me, every single one was absolute perfection! I left my parents to their laughter, roses, and Mint Meltaways from Fannie May.
Hubs and I celebrated our Valentine's Day last weekend. Yesterday was 'just another day', for what it was worth. That said, thanks to these two peeks into my parents' home, I got to witness what I would have to describe what was the *most* beautiful Valentine! <3 <3 <3
Some couples don't get to make it to 'til death do us part'. My parents do. It is tragic, in some ways. However, it is also intensely rich, powerful, and beautiful. Love like theirs, which has been tried in the fires of life repeatedly (and which has survived and thrived), is something special, indeed.
Thank you, Mom and Dad, for being this beautiful testimony of love that doesn't quit. Thank you for exemplifying the principle that love works - very hard sometimes - to keep going. Thank you for proving that 'til death do us part' is still more than "just words" on "just a paper". Your love and commitment have been inspiring. Your dedication has been witnessed. Your love story will not go untold. <3
We have started a GoFundMe Campaign on my dad's behalf. Please consider sharing it on social media.
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