2025 Saturday — Valentine’s Memories

Eleven years ago, 2014, Valentine’s Day was also on a Friday. The day after Valentine’s Day I hosted a party for the women of West Grand Baptist Church in Corona. We enjoyed lots of crazy fun. Several of my spiritual leaders and friends who prayed often for me were in that room; now some of them have changed their address to Heaven, so the photos enhance my memory. Gathering with friends is so very meaningful. I still remember their laughter. This is what I documented in my journal eleven years ago.
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Today was the Valentine Luncheon at church. Of course, I read some of Ted Kooser's Valentine poetry. He is absolutely my favorite Valentine poet. So I read several of his poems.

We had so much fun. Before I read "A Perfect Heart" I handed-out red construction paper and everyone had brought scissors with them, so I instructed them to cut out a heart. Then I read:

"A Perfect Heart"

To make a perfect heart you take a sheet
of red construction paper of the type
that’s rough as a cat’s tongue, fold it once,
and crease it really hard, so it feels
as if your thumb might light up like a match,

then choose your scissors from the box. I like
those safety scissors with the sticky blades
and the rubber grips that pinch a little skin
as you snip along. They make you careful,
just as you should be, cutting out a heart

for someone you love. Don’t worry that your curve
won’t make a valentine; it will. Rely
on chewing on your lip and symmetry
to guide your hand along with special art.
And there it is at last: a heart, a heart!

The cutting of construction paper was just a hoot. We had one table of women that were just a riot as they cut and created. Several tables of ladies got very quiet and serious as they snipped with scissors. We had a blast and had lots of laughter.

The meal was delicious. Readings also included scripture, a story, and we finished with singing what I like to call the "this I know song" as Rebecca Marsh (Becky) led us. Everyone sang. We had a very good time.

It was a Happy Day after Valentine's Day gathering.
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And now it’s a wonderful memory that I’ve enjoyed all over again.

Rosie (& Mr. Fun), aka Carol
and Chloe & Mitzi too!