Valentine’s Day Celebration With My Gal Pals!

BLOGGING BREAK UPDATE:  Yes, I am still on a little break from blogging while I  finish up some home projects, catch up on past due doctor appointments, delight in a fun new painting course I’m taking (I’ll be sharing more about that in the near future), enjoy a couple of mini vacations and wait while my blog is undergoing a transformation!  However . . . I simply couldn’t let Valentine’s Day pass with slipping in a “little” post. Last night I had an early Valentine’s Day Celebration with some of my “gal pals”.  I belong to a small women’s group (through the Freedom Session class that Mr. OTN and I direct locally) that meets weekly.  Every once in awhile we have what we call “Going Deeper Nights” where we meet in one of our homes and share dinner and our lives.  My current small group began in September and we have gotten to know each other pretty well by now.  Since it was my turn to host, and since Valentine’s Day is this week, I decided to decorate for the occasion just to let these women, who have been so brave and authentic in sharing their lives, know how much they mean to me.  

 Uh no, this isn’t one of my ladies but my Sasha just loves dressing up for the holidays and photo bombing whenever the opportunity arises.

 Here are a few of the red touches I’ve placed around my house to celebrate this day of love.

A combination of winter and Valentine’s Day decor, some bleached and glittered pinecones on display in my coffee table cloche.

A new graphic print pillow from Marshalls, on Clearance from Christmas of course!  

A crystal momma and her babies swim across a mirrored table top through a scattering of rose petals.  My mother bought these swans for me many years ago, a gift from her heart to mine.

My cupids have come out for the holiday, including this one that my sister painted several years ago.  She made one for every table at her son’s wedding.  I am so happy to have a memento of that very happy occasion.

Here is another little cupid picture on display in my powder room.

Red and white hand towels of course,

and another angel completes my powder room decor.

On to my table setting with a cupid vase filled with roses and babies breath.

White, gold and red table decor . . .

. . . and a little treat atop each napkin.  Would my ladies think I was a silly, prissy little thing with all of my Valentine’s Day decor?  I don’t know about you but I don’t really know too many people who decorate for every little holiday, other than us blogging folk!  I told them all that THEY were my Valentine’s this night and I think it made them feel special.  I surely hope so anyway.

One of the gals in our group always wins the prize for the best tasting dishes with the best presentation.  She brought this heart shaped Brie wrapped in phyllo.  Isn’t it gorgeous?

It was also delicious and I can’t wait to get the recipe!

Parfaits for dessert were brought by another of my gals. They were a perfect match to the rest of the table.  I guess we all had Valentine’s Day on our minds.

Once we started eating and sharing we never did get a picture of all of us at the table together.  Maybe that was meant to be.  Imagine in your mind if you will, eight women, all different ages, sizes, skin tones, backgrounds, marital status and day-to-day interests coming together each week, sharing their lives and growing together until their differences are mysteriously forgotten.  Most of us probably didn’t begin the year thinking we had much in common at all but as each of us has shared her story, laughed together and cried together, we’ve learned that our commonalities surpass our differences. 

My FS gal pals truly are my heroes this Valentine’s week.  Many have overcome great difficulties in life.  They are women of great strength, real fighters, and the thing that I admire most about them is that they are willing to go back and face the terrible things they’ve been through once again in order to offer their pain up to God and allow Him to lift the burden from them once and for all.  They are forgiving those who have harmed them.  They are taking the steps necessary to make things right with those they have harmed.  They are finding real freedom and healing in this journey we are traveling together.  

Okay, so a few more shots of Sasha.  One of these will be the February photo for Sasha’s 2015 Calendar.  Which one is your favorite?  I will be taking your votes into consideration.

It may be the end of the month before my blog redesign is complete and ready for the big reveal.  I can hardly wait to share it with you!   

Until then, Valentine’s Day blessings to you my friends,