Funnest Valentine's party!!!!! Oh my gosh? Did I say funnest? It was even better than that!!!!
A couple of my friends thought making Valentines was nuts. At the end of the party we agreed it was the best ever. We shared our hearts and laughter....and Valentines.
I had everyone bring their wedding pictures and as we sent them around the table, they told their "love story." Everyone loves their love story and it was fun. And some funny wedding stories.
I LOVE those.
I made Valentine's bags for everyone with a special goofy Valentine that represented them on the fronts. Here are some:
Terri is married to a Catholic boy so we have fun with that.
Tauna takes water aerobics each morning.....
I turned this:
into this.
When you're friends forever, you remember all the silly conversations from years ago. Elaine used to say she used to fantasize about being a mermaid rescued by a handsome pirate.
And this is me. Recognize my birthday mask?
The Valentine's from the friends were wonderful. Here are a few:
Loretta is a fabulous artist and loves to recreate my favorite artist, James Christensens fantasy art. She painted this and made a multi-medium picture for us. Fabulous!!!
BFF Cathy loves to go to the gym and workout (ugh!) and to travel, decorating (a color swatch) and LOVES See's chocolates (bag attached!)
Brendalyn is a card maker extraordinaire. She made these darling boxes and they are filled with chocolate gummies....since she's a Baer.
Funny Kathy is a gardener. Maybe a master gardener. She's been a gardener at the Salt Lake Temple. Her Valentine was perfect!
All in all, we all got a fun stash of love and goodies. We know each other so well- have shared life's ups and downs and been there to share and support each other. How blessed we are!!! My text message has "dinged" all morning with everyone exclaiming how much fun it was. Success!
And David had flowers for me this morning! Tru Luv. I got him cashews and pistachios since I'm NUTS about him. Then I'm making his favorite dessert tonight.
Elaine- my favorite poet wrote a beautiful poem about our friendship.
Again, Moon and Magnolias
My lamp reflects in the black window pane.
Look, two lamps,
one here, on the dresser,
one outside in the magnolia tree.
It shines steadily from invisible branches
that rattle against the rain gutter.
With the lamp turned off,
the tree peers in at me,
might blooming in its boughs.
Shriveled leaves, not yet twisted free,
wait their turn to touch the ground they've watched
for three seasons. I've heard the wind
call out their names, lying here,
wondering when the moon will look in on me.
Magnolia leaves have southern names:
Savanna, Charlotte, Georgia, of course, Scarlet.
Never men's names on a magnolia tree.
Strange that a tree can be a whole group of friends
blessing me with their willingness:
to start over each spring.
to share swelling, furry pods of possibility,
to flower with uninhibited joy,
exultant in waxy pinks and lavenders,
to watch our blossoms brown,
wilt away, petals undone.
The moon, in one of here phases-
I'm never sure is she's waxing or waning-
arrives, takes a turn sitting in the branches,
pretending for a moment she's a Carolina moon.
Good night, she croons,
and the wind blows her up, up across the sky.
