Come away with me...

It's almost Valentines Day- the holiday that I've always thought was a little SILLY. Why do people make an extra special effort ONE day a year? Shouldn't EVERY day be a special effort to let the someone special in your life know how MUCH you love them?!?

I am so grateful to have had you in my life to share and grow our love together. I think in this past year, you and I learned a lot about love. Love is NOT about words {sometimes you couldn't even talk to express it}, love is NOT about actions {sometimes you were too weak to hug or kiss}...but we ALL knew how much you loved us.

Love is deep, Love is REAL and Love is NEVER ending.

Love is patient, love is kind...

it...bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails... but the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7,13 {LOVE is switched out for Charity-which is the PURE love of Christ}

Although you are not here, I don't need a card, flowers or that {OH so delish} waxy chocolate to let me know that I am loved.

Our past 10 years together was a constant display of your love,

...and for THAT, I am FOREVER grateful!

{Hallie did this 2 years ago in Kindergarten}

"Love is the very essence of life. It is the pot of gold at the end of the

rainbow. Yet it is not found only at the end of the rainbow. Love is at the beginning also, and from it springs the beauty that arched across the sky on a stormy day. Love is the security for which children weep, the yearning of youth, the adhesive that binds marriage, and the lubricant that prevents devastating friction in the home; it is the peace of old age, the sunlight of hope shining through death. How rich are those who enjoy it in their associations with family, friends, and neighbors! Love, like faith, is a gift of God. It is also the most enduring and most powerful virtue."

-Gordan B. Hinckley

On Valentines Day, I will celebrate with the OTHER loves in my life.

I have a bottle of cider in the fridge to do "cheers" with the kids.

Cheers to our love

~ and ~

Cheers for giving me a blessed 10 years with you in my life...

Love you HOT stuff!

Lots of hugs and LOTS of kisses

But, I do have one special Valentine's wish- visit me in my dreams

"I want to wake up with the rain falling on a tin roof

while I'm safe there in your arms...

so all I ask is for you to come away with me in the night.

Come away, WITH Me...."

Celebrations...

Today is a special day-it's your BIRTHDAY!

~Your 31st Birthday~

Of course it would be VERY easy to get sad about NOT being able to celebrate such a day with you. But we don't like to sulk around, so we will try to do the exact opposite. I asked the kids what they would like to do for your birthday and this is the list they came up with...

~Send balloons up to Heaven {I'm so glad we started doing this tradition}

~Go to Daddy's favorite restaurant -I asked what restaurant and this was Hallie's reply:

Hallie: The peanut butter one!!!

Me: What is the peanut butter one?

Hallie: You know, the one where you eat the peanuts and throw the shells on the floor?!?

Me: {Laughing really hard} Ohhhhhh, you mean Texas Roadhouse?!?

Hallie: Ya, ya THAT place

~Have a dance party with Dad's favorite music {we like music and we LovE to dance}

~Sing Happy Birthday and eat cake

~Play Dad's favorite game {not quite sure what that was :/}

~and then... we can watch Daddy's video! {the life slide show played at Ryan's funeral- I can't wait to share it with all of you when I get to finishing his TEAM RYAN blog...}

How awesome are those kiddos?!?

They just planned a super fun day for ALL of us in YOUR honor. Of course they did start adding in a bunch of activities THEY wanted to do and we may just slip a few of those things in as well;) But no matter what, we are going to make YOUR special day as happy and memorable as possible.

~Happy Birthday Ryan~

We LOVE You!

I hope you are enjoying an eternity of Heavenly celebrations...