A Valentine Tale

In honor of Valentine's day and Maddie's 1 month/4 week milestone, I can't help but reminisce of our humble beginnings. (So maybe we're still beginning and it's still quite humble) To begin, a little background. I am a person of detail. In particular, detail of numbers and "coincidences". I know the Lord created me this way, and takes great delight in this trait of mine, as He continually satisfies my awareness for such details. For example, I was baptized 02.02.1992. I was in the 2nd grade. Coincidence? I think not. I knew that day, at 8 years old that I was giving my life to the Lord, to live a different and called existence. I've committed myself to that decision ever since.

So 11 years later, 18 and 19 year old, college freshmen, Luke and Becca celebrated their first Valentine's Day as boyfriend and girlfriend. It was a special night including a creative and witty hand-written poem, stuffed teddy bear (affectionately known as Bojangles for those who've met him), roses and an adventurous trip out of the Center of the Universe to downtown Richmond for dinner at Julian's, followed by coffee at Barnes & Noble. Seven years since that date, and here we are celebrating our first Valentine's as a family of 3. Seven years later, rejoicing in 4 weeks of loving our baby girl, who was born January 16,2010. Seven years later, remembering that special outing, and remembering the night we starting dating..January 16, 2003.

The special number? 7. Not only my favorite number and field hockey jersey number, but a special Biblical number. The number of years to the day that our beautiful baby was born after we started dating. I think God brought her to us 3 weeks early as a sign of His promise and commitment. So that on such a special day, I would be reminded again that He is aware of the way He made me. That I look for the correlation of details just so I can see Him there. Most importantly, that He loves me. I hope you've had a beautiful Valentine's Day. He is the ultimate Valentine. Every night as I put Maddie in her bed, I kiss her precious cheeks and tell her "Mommy loves you". I hope tonight as you get into bed, you take some time to hear from your Valentine that "Daddy loves you".