Valentine’s Day will be here before you know it and it got me to thinking. It must be difficult for my mother. This year my father will be gone for twenty years which means she has missed twenty Valentine’s with him. I know that other holidays are difficult but it can’t be easy on the one day of the year that is all about the romance and love.
In all those years she has never once looked at other man. Maybe admired an actor or two but never for a second thought about being with anyone else. She still wears her wedding rings and any time she has to fill out forms I have to remind her not to check married. If you ask her she is married. She talks about my dad and the life they had all the time. To the point that some days I wonder if she is not moving forward but rather stuck in the past that she can’t let go of.
I would never tell her that. When he died she spent the first week wearing his t shirt and refusing to get out of the bed. We worried about her but my younger brother and I got her up and forced her to eat and do things. After a month or two I went in and took his clothes out of the closet. I put them in a cedar trunk. Then a year later I got rid of them. I didn’t do anything right away but tried to ease her into it.
She used to go the cemetery daily and just sit with him. I didn’t mind because I thought it helped her. After a while she stopped and seemed to do better. She came to live with us and has done better. Most of the time. It seems that the older she gets the more she withdraws into the past. She does it a lot around holidays and I have noticed her doing it more and more as this particular holiday creeps upon us.
I can’t imagine what it must feel like to have lost your one true love. I know what it is like to hurt over lost love. To be single on a holidays where there are couples everywhere. We don’t make a big deal of the holiday if we can help it. I remember my father always sending her flowers, getting her the biggest box of chocolates he could find, and mailing her a card. The cards were always sweet and he wrote her a long love note in there. In fact, she still has most of them. I’m not why he mailed the card. Maybe he wanted her to get some happy mail that day but he always did.
He always bought us something as well. It was never anything big. Although I do remember one year him getting me a yard stick of gum. It sounds silly but when your a child that much gum is amazing! I thought this year I would send her something special and maybe send her a valentine card in the mail. I thought it may be a good reminder of the all the things she still has. Plus maybe it will remind her a little bit of my father. Just something to see her smile this holiday
Speaking of smiling I have a great giveaway hop to share with you! It is hosted by MamatheFox and I’m sure you are going to just love it. I’m giving away another Walmart gift card just because y’all seemed to enjoy that in the last hop. Plus, this ends the day after Valentine’s Day so whomever wins could use it to buy all that candy (or baking supplies) that will go on sale.
Enter the Giveaway
ENTER BELOW FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A $100 WALMART GIFT CARD. GIVEAWAY IS OPEN TO US ONLY AND ENDS FEBURARY 15, 2020 AT 11:59 PM EST.
The Giveaway Has Ended.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN ENTERING THE GIVEAWAY. SADLY THIS ONE HAS ENDED BUT DON'T WORRY THERE WILL BE MORE. THE WINNER(S) CAN BE FOUND BY HEADING OVER TO THE GIVEAWAY WINNERS PAGE.
MamatheFox and all participating blogs are not held responsible for sponsors who fail to fulfill their prize obligations.
Hop Around to Other Blogs
Hop on over to all of the other blogs and enter to win the giveaways they have going on there as well. Good luck!
[inlinkz_linkup id=822352 mode=0]
I live in a small Georgia town that you most likely have never heard of and I LOVE it! My house is more than full as I am a single mother of four & caregiver to my aging mother and uncle. Lover of all things Outlander. Goes to the beat of her own drum woman.
Nerlande says
I liked it
monique s says
I love the look. It is very warm and cozy
Kimberly says
Love them! They look great.
Kelly Kimmell says
I love how it turned out, looks very nice.
Kristen says
Your parents had a true love story <3
Darlene Owen says
I love the new curtains.
Sharon Rooney says
The new curtains and place mats look great, everything ties together perfectly
Your Mom is lucky to be with you, I’m sure it helps her get over her loss or make it more bearable.
Sandy Klocinski says
Awesome look! Your mom is lucky to have you
Rita Wray says
They look very nice.
beth shepherd says
I really like them. great job!
Mary Kirkland says
I really like them.
Cali W. says
Thanks for the giveaway; happy Valentine’s day. 🙂
Dawn Monzu says
I think it’s pretty darn cool. I wish I had that talent. I can’t seem to match things up very well. Very impressive!
bn100 says
looks nice
Michelle Catallo says
The question IRT placemats and curtains is from last month (the black and white plaid pattern).
Great back story with your parents hun, know it’s hard (hugs)
Margaret Smith says
I really like them a lot.
Julie Lundstrom says
I have one of my daughter that had a beautiful wedding and my other one will be getting married this year.
Calvin says
I like those! Very nice choice.
Marisela Zuniga says
It looks really nice
Shelly Dixon says
Not sure what curtains?
Peggy Rydzewski says
Very nice I must say.
Kim Avery says
I love them! They bring the room to life but I love any kid of buffalo plaid so I may be biased.
Nancy says
It’s nice to redecorate sometimes. Enjoy!
Rosie says
I think it is a great idea to send your a mom a card in the mail, even though she’s living with you. It will be a nice surprise. I know many women who never again want to go on a date or get married again, mostly my Italian aunties. I love black and white buffalo plaid, and the placemats are nice, black can really set off the place setting and food!
Mood Reader says
Your Mom was lucky to have a love like that! Hope you both have a good Valentine’s Day! 🙂 xo
Tina says
I love them
Jennylyn Gross says
love them
Barrie says
Hmmm….no placemats on this post. Sounds like your mom and her husband had a good marriage. She is lucky to have you!
Shannon V Holmes says
I loved the curtains and placemats.
Your dad sounds like a wonderful father and your parents had a good relationship. She is lucky to have you.
Jessica Peeling says
This was very moving, thank you for sharing
Rochelle Haynes says
I am loving them
Mary Gardner says
Awww. It is so hard to loose someone you love that much but truly wonderful that she was able to experience that great love. I hope she enjoys receiving her valentine from you and has fond memories from your precious father.
Cynthia C says
I love your parents’ story.
rita leonard says
Lovely. They go together nicely
paige chandler says
They are very nice and look more expensive than they are.
Lois M. says
I don’t know if I missed a link to the placemats, but they aren’t in this post – but it is still a great story that was posted. 🙂
Kayley says
I think the question in the giveaway widget is from a previous giveaway, it is asking about curtains and placemats that aren’t in this post. Regarding this particular post, thank you for sharing your story.
Ashley Chassereau Parks says
Love the curtains and placemats! Your mom and dad sound like they had a wonderful love story. I lost my dad a little over a year ago & I worry about my mom too. She has had a hard time with each passing holiday without him. I like the Valentine’s card in the mail idea. So sweet!
Edye says
I love them! So pretty 🙂
Donna says
The curtains and placemats looked wonderful. I understand very well what your mother has been through. I lost my husband 10 years ago. The holidays can be particularly tough!
Lisa says
I think they are wonderful.
sandra says
if i remember correctly, they were a bit dark for my liking
Mary Beth Elderton says
Very sophisticated!
Janet W. says
I remember from a previous post and thought they go nicely together!
Tamra Phelps says
The plaid was really pretty, I thought. And your Mom sounds like a great lady. Maybe she just thinks she had her one true love and that’s that. I’ve known some women and men who saw it that way. Still, it’s nice that you try to draw her out if she seems sad. I think sending her a card is a good idea.
Jerry Lafferty says
I like the curtains
Molli Taylor says
i love the curtains and placemats. the little details matter!
Sherry says
I love them and would mind having some like them.
Clem says
I like their colors.
Karley Moore says
I think that they are fabulous! Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
Dana Rodriguez says
I think they are so pretty!
Adriane says
The curtains and placemats were shown in an older post – loved them 🙂
Robin Abrams says
I love them. I need some new ones too
Lisa says
I don’t see a picture of curtains or placemats, but I bet they look nice. It’s a lovely story you wrote about your parents for Valentine’s day. Getting a yardstick’s worth of gum would be awesome for a kid.
Charity Cram says
They look great with the chairs! It sounds like your parents had a very special relationship. My grandfather lived decades longer than the love of his life, my grandmother, and had no interest in remarrying. When someone would asked him about it, he’d say, “There are worse things in life than being single.”
sheila ressel says
Love them! They really make the room pop!
Tiffany S says
My favorite and only Valentine is my husband. I like going out to eat on Valentines Day.
Barbara Montag says
My favorite valentine is my grand daughter.
Michelle J. says
My valentine is my husband–he is perfection!
mrsshukra says
Valentine watching a DVD with a simple meal together!
Susan Smith says
My favorite Valentine is my husband.
Dianna says
My husband is my Valentine. We don’t buy each other gifts, but we try to have a special evening — dinner and a movie with the whole family.
Donna Cheatle says
My husband is and always will be my favorite Valentine. We were High School Sweethearts and are still together and as in love as we were then, some 40 years ago. We don’t fuss much with Valentine’s Day because we make sure to have special days and dates all year long, not just one day. It’s sweet that you want to make Valentine’s Day special again for your Mom . I think a card in the mail will bring back that special closeness she shared with your Dad. I’m positive she’ll cherish that unexpected connection.
Stephanie Jones says
my boyfriend! i love him so much
LB says
My husband is my favorite valentine.
heather says
My favorite Valentine is my best friend.
Kimmy Ripley says
My sweet as sugar CHLOE PEARL is my Valentine!
Shannon D Citrino says
I’m my own valentine this year…and I dont mind a bit!!
Natalie says
My favorite Valentine right now is my adorable niece!
Lisa Davis says
My favorite valentine is my dog
AuntySuzany says
My favorite valentine is my hubby!
Elizabeth Miller says
My favorite Valentine is spending the evening with my daughter making a special dinner and watching a movie together.
latanya says
my fave valentine’s is my husband
Lisa Walker says
My favorite Valentine has always been my Dad. He passed away last April but he’s always in my thoughts.
Laurie Nykaza says
My favorite Valentine is my special son with his heart transplant we celebrate it each year together.
Nidhi C says
My the most favorite Valentine is my husband.
Sarah L says
My favorite Valentine is my best friend.
Thanks for the contest.
Carey Bearden says
My favorite Valentine is my husband. This year on 7-7-7 We will celebrate our wedding anniversary and 20 years of being together.
Amber Terry says
I genuinely do not have a favorite Valentine 🙂 I do like the holiday, though.
(Thanks for the chance to win!)
BookLady says
What a touching story about your mother! Thanks for sharing. My favorite Valentine is my husband.
Rosanne says
My father and brother were both named Valentine. But my favorite Valentine is my grandson
Lorena Keech says
My favorite Valentine is my husband of 41 years.
Jeryl M. says
My husband is my favorite Valentine.
Jeanna Massman says
Five years into our marriage, I lost the diamond out of my engagement ring. Twenty five years later, my husband replaced it on Valentine’s Day!💍💋💕
Judy Gregory says
I don’t really celebrate holidays. It is a new day every day.
Cathy French says
My boyfriend and I will be together 22 years come this March. He always brings me flowers from Kroger for Valentines Day. This year I hope I can talk him into going out to eat since we rarely do
Anne C says
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Most memorable was when my son, who was 8 that time, gave me a fake rose that he bought from a vendor outside his school. it’s the thought that counts!
Amber Kolb says
My favorite valentine is my husband, Russ!! He’s my best friend and we have fun together no matter what we do!
Christina Gould says
My favorite Valentine is my daughter. Thanks for the giveaway!
LeAnn Harbert says
I like the homemade gifts my sons made for me when they were in school
wen budro says
Handmade Valentines from the kids- when they were little- are my favorite Valentines.
Kayla Klontz says
My favorite Valentine is my children, no one makes me happier!
stella methvin says
I dated my Husband when I was 16 and he 21…did not last and we both moved on. After not seeing one another for 14 years and both divorced we found each other one evening and have been together 26 years now. He is my Valentine….well and my 2yr old grandson
Sharon Braswell says
My favorite Valentine is my husband! Favorite Valentines Day, when my daughter and I baked cookies and decorated for the holiday and gave them as Valentines for my family!
AEKZ2 says
My children are my favorite Valentine.
Belinda Burton says
Your post is both heartbreaking and touching. What an incredible love your parents shared! My forever valentine is my husband of 20 years.
Belinda Burton says
Your post is both heartbreaking and touching! What an incredible love your parents shared! My forever valentine is my husband of 20 years.
Ann says
My favorite valentines are my two cats. I adopted them about 11 years ago, and so much has happened during that time. We’ve lived in different places, and have seen people come and go. But they are a sort of constant for me.
Sand says
All my family are my favorite valentines!
Jenny Ham says
My favorite Valentine is warm and fuzzy and likes to Cuddle it’s my Cooper Kitty..
Buddy Garrett says
My favorite Valentine is married to someone else.