Valentine's Day

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

Alright, I will admit that Valentine's Day can get pretty cheesy. However, I love that there are so many cute decorations, you can give valentine's to your friends, and there are lots of chocolates and flowers around.

I'm sure many of you have some of the same memories of Valentine's Day that I have.  One thing that I can remember, is my mom taking me to go get my Valentine's Day Cards for all of my classmates. And of course, the rule was you had to write one for everyone in your class. Then, on the day of Valentine's Day in class, we would decorate our little "Valentine's Mail Boxes" and have a party with heart shaped cookies and go around to deliver our cards.  

I know that I wrote about it last year, in another post called "Valentine's Day", so why not write about it again, just a year later, right?

The biggest thing in my mind about Valentine's Day, is the fact that this year marks the 20 years that I have been adopted!  20 years ago, although I don't remember it, my parents and I met for the very first time in an orphanage in Nanning, Guangxi, China.  Alongside them, was another couple from our "sister church" adopting my best friend Annie, and another lady adopting a girl named Molly. 

I honestly can't remember what my life would be like had I not been adopted.  So instead of calling Valentine's Day, Valentine's Day, my family calls it "Gotcha' Day".  Every year when I was growing up, on "Gotcha' Day", we would celebrate by going to dinner. It was honestly kind of strange for me during my first year of college on Valentine's Day, because I wasn't with my parents.  But I am so thankful for the family that God has placed me in and with where He has me now!

Just a few photos I found in my dad's office this past summer.

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day.  You either love it, or you hate it.  Usually when you hate it, it's because you don't have anyone special to share the day with.  When you love it, well, that's self explanatory.  You have someone to love and share it with.

Although those are the two most common reactions towards Valentine's Day, I for one have learned to have a different view towards this day.  On Valentine's Day, I always realize how blessed I am to have the life that I have today.  19 years ago today, my parents were in China to adopt me.  Had it not been for them, I do not know what my life would be like today.  Throughout the past 19 years, I have been blessed with so many opportunities and I was raised in a wonderful loving Christian home.  I have the most wonderful family ever and I have also created some wonderful friendships too.  

For me, Valentine's Day isn't a day to realize how lonely you are if you don't have a 'Valentine' or a day to be mushy and show that you love someone more on one day than I do on another day.  For me, today is a day that I look back and I say "Thank You" to God and to my parents for how they have blessed me so much and given me all that they can to make sure that I have the best opportunities in my life.  

So for those of you who may be single on this Valentine's Day, I challenge and encourage you to take a look at your life and realize how blessed you are to have a wonderful loving family and wonderful friends.  Just because you aren't 'In a Relationship' doesn't mean that you can't show that you love you friends and family.