Dear Reader:

There was certainly no sunshine early yesterday morning in Summerville…in fact it was so dark I thought it was still midnight at 6:30 a.m….all was gloomy.

As I lay in bed listening to the wind and rain…I thought “What a bummer Valentines Day”…cold, dreary, windy, and rainy!”  I was allowing myself to be influenced by the weather instead of by me and how I perceived the day.

And then as if on cue…life decided to show me just what a  wonderful life I was living and what a precious day this day of love really was going to be… through texts, emails, phone calls, friends and family sharing their love with me!

Lisa started the day with early greetings…she sent a cute little new hello to which made me smile. Adorable!!

Every day is about celebrating life and feelings with friends and family who complete our lives.

Then up pops Winnie the Pooh…all dressed in glittery red valentines from the wonderful Jo Dufford…great way to start the day.  Suddenly I found myself smiling.

Then I really had to grin. Mollie  has been gone for a few days visiting her sister and new baby nephew.  I was wondering how Walsh was getting three kids off with Valentines and outfits on today…he came through like a champ.

Apparently he had already dropped Rutledge and come back to dress Lachlan and Eloise…in their Valentine clothes..even got Eloise to keep her bow on long enough to take a picture…truly a God Wink. Very proud of Walsh!

Then Kaitlyn sent  a picture of her holding Valentine flowers…Tommy had surprised her by leaving them at their favorite coffee shop on the way to work…she ran in to get the coffee and came out with flowers. *Their first guests arrive at the Air B&B  tonight for Valentines day…a lot going on!

John and Mandy and the children are at at Disney for the long Presidents’ Day holiday weekend and taking in Valentines Day with Disney characters!

With every text, call, email, joke , cartoon (Loved the dog valentines cartoon Janet B!) or Valentines cards….my smile got bigger and bigger. And then came the Whammy surprise…the Ya’s were concerned about a procedure on a close friend and everything turned out miraculously well. Breath out ….life in!

Later in the afternoon*another friend, Ann,  received good news concerning her breast cancer future treatments…the sun seemed to be over-flowing  with love and life.

By now the rain had dissipated, the sun was beaming down and by lunch time…it was chilly but beautiful…phone calls came in (Honey’s always make me smile and tear up) and Valentine cards arrived…I could hardly contain all the sunshine of love floating around my Happy Room.

Some days…don’t you just want to run around the yard with your arms flung wide open hugging everything that comes in your direction. Love has conquered all with kindness, prayer, friendship, family and compassion.

So until tomorrow…no need to wait on some special retail holiday to feel love…wake up right now and start the love with your own sunshine.

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh