My Funny Valentine

Jon and Lisa (aka Mr. and Mrs. Buttercup) at the

Mobile Mystics Ball last year! 

I had the best day today!  My sweet husband, Jon, asked me last night if I could take off today and spend the day with him.  Well, of course, I said yes!  I took a vacation day and Jon and I had an entire “date day.”  We went out for breakfast, shopped for a Mardi Gras dress for our upcoming ball and generally just enjoyed being with each other.  As the day went by, I was reminded of how blessed I am to have Jon in my life!  Not many husbands would follow his wife from store to store until the ideal dress was found and then search for accessories that would complement the dress perfectly!  He even endured a trip to Hobby Lobby!  Yes, he’s great and I am thankful! 

Sometimes I still can’t believe how my life has turned out.    I think I mentioned on a previous post that I married late in life – if 37 can be called late.  I think it certainly can – in fact, let’s be honest, I was an old maid!  You just can’t know how that feels…..especially when you are an elementary school teacher!!!  I was literally an “old maid school teacher”!  It seemed I was destined to live out that old adage “always a bridesmaid, never a bride.”  I was happy with all other aspects of my life; however, something was missing.  I wanted to be in love.  Let’s be honest, who doesn’t want to love and be loved in return?  As the years went by I longed to be a wife and mother more than anything in the world.  I did not like to think that I had spent my life working with children and yet I was destined not to have children of my own.  I prayed and prayed for God to send me a husband - my special someone.  I learned a lot during those years about waiting on God.  I struggled with wanting things my way and in my time.  But, I have learned that God’s timing is perfect. 

In September of 2000, I agreed to a blind date.  To be brutally honest, I had already started the adoption process to adopt a baby girl from China.  When my friend suggested I go out with a childhood friend of his, I very nonchalantly said “sure.”  (My thought was that if it didn’t work out, it wouldn’t matter because I would still have my little Chinese angel.)  Little did I know that when I met Jon the next week, I would fall head over heels in love!!!  If fact, when he called me the first time, I hung up thinking “oh, my goodness!” 

To make a long story short, we were engaged in December and married the following May. My life changed completely!!  Jon came into my life and with him, Matt and Drew, my two step sons who are now 14 and 15.  My life has never been the same!  I like to joke that I began the school year as an old maid and ended it as a wife and mother! (FYI, when I met Jon, I was an “old maid principal” as opposed to an old maid teacher.) 

It is now almost ten years later and I still love to hang out with Jon!  He continues to spoil me!  For several years on my birthday he sent me the number of roses that I was old!  Can you imagine receiving 39 roses?  On our fourth anniversary he sent me four dozen roses.  You are getting the picture, right?  Now he is more apt to pick up fresh flowers from our local grocery store or get my car serviced and cleaned.  He also irons for me!   Yes, it’s true!  I am blessed!  As I plan for Valentine’s Day, I pause and think of my life and how it is so much richer because of my husband.  I also thank God that he brought Jon and all of our boys to me in His time.    Please know that I am not claiming to have a perfect marriage.   I do know that Jon and I love each other and we are committed to each other through all the trials life has to offer!  It is so comforting to know that he will always be there for me.  I love being his "Gracie"!  How sweet it is!!

Let marriage be held in honor among all.  Hebrews 13:4. 

There is no more lovely, friendly or charming relationship, communion, or company than a good marriage.  Martin Luther

I am linking (I hope I did it correctly) to Debbie's "Newbie Party" at http://www.debbie-debbiedoos.blogspot.com/.  Come visit and join the fun!