love and ashes

does anyone else think it's a little incongruous to have ash wednesday the day before valentines?  a feast of sacrifice before a celebration of romance?  true, tomorrow is named after a saint, but i'm having a hard time finding much information about mr. valentine except for:
a) there are many saints which carry the name valentine, and a few of them died on Feb. 14th (note:  if you are a dedicated Catholic, prone to miracles and with the last name "Valentine", make sure your life insurance policy is up to date immediately)
b) he tried to convert the emporer Claudius, and was beheaded for the attempt.

here's the most interesting tidbit i found:

Saints are not supposed to rest in peace; they're expected to keep busy: to perform miracles, to intercede. Being in jail or dead is no excuse for non-performance of the supernatural. One legend says, while awaiting his execution, Valentinus restored the sight of his jailer's blind daughter. Another legend says, on the eve of his death, he penned a farewell note to the jailer's daughter, signing it, "From your Valentine."

St. Valentine was a Priest, martyred in 269 ... He is the Patron Saint of affianced couples, bee keepers, engaged couples, epilepsy, fainting, greetings, happy marriages, love, lovers, plague, travellers, young people. He is represented in pictures with birds and roses.

 

lovers, happy marriages, plague and epilepsy.  these saints don't dissapoint!  i wonder what i would be the patron saint of?  clean bathrooms, cheese, loud laughter and paint stains.  represented in pictures with norwex cloths and boursin.

 

scott asked me what i'm giving up for Lent.  i told him i'm giving up giving up.  for some reason i feel strongly that someone who is already off of all sugar, SURELY should not be required to sacrifice more!  but, what i really mean, is that i'm going to stop the fatalistic mood swings i am prone to in this sugar-free journey.  for 40 days i'm hoping to give up despair.

 

 

my mother-in-law sent me a link to a delightful little blog (www.sisterssuitcaseblog.com) for valentine craft ideas.  they have free templates to download, and i couldn't resist this one that says "we go together like _______________ & _____________".  you put it in a frame and use a dry erase marker to keep changing the blanks.  well, i came downstairs one morning and was greeted with this

 

can you read that?  it says "bella & edward".  now, tell me, did i not marry the right man for me?  that is just the right amount of cheesy and ridiculous, and yet, suprisingly meaningful to me! (sigh, love me in my lameness). later i noticed he had changed it to "jacob and renesmee", but i think that was going a little too far. 

 

 

well friends, i hope that the patron saint of fainting finds you swooning in love tomorrow - or that your Lenten journey begins with a day brimming with love from your God.   personally,  i'm hoping for both!