2024, Family, holidays, Uncategorized

Hearts or Ashes?

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Today is a tough day for devout Roman Catholics and Lutherans in love. How do you celebrate Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday on the same day?

I suppose you could go out for a romantic dinner with the ashes still visible on your foreheads. It might also work to try to limit the number of chocolates you consume, or buy your loved one a bouquet of dead flowers. After all, it is the thought that counts!

Husband is in Bismarck today and won’t be home until late. The only flames ignited in our home will be the ones in the gas stove that is finally to be re-installed some time today. We decided to not attend the Ash Wednesday service this evening because we are heartily sick of church, having sung in the choir at both service’s two Sundays in a row, and having to play bells at both services this Sunday. I have consumed more than enough chocolate at work this week. Having Husband home safe tomorrow evening is a good enough Valentine for me.

What are some memorable Valentine’s Days in the past for you? How did your Elementary School observe Valentine’s Day? 

32 thoughts on “Hearts or Ashes?”

  1. I went to several elementary schools but I remember that a staple of Valentine’s Day was the decorated “mailbox” that was made in class for your classmates’ cards. It was part of the experience that you looked through all the boxes of cards to make sure none of them were too mushy. Most years I actually decided which cards went to which classmate – a task that took time. My sister never did this; she just signed the cards and handed them out, not worrying about exactly what the message said. 

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    1. As I recall we decorated shoe boxes for our msil boxes, and yes, it was important to carefully check each Valentine for appropriateness for the recipient

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  2. I think our saddest Valentine’s Day was the one after our son was born as a preemie on February 10th, and I was discharged from the hospital on the 14th but he had to stay for another month. Now he is 38 and 6’5″.

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  3. My kindergarten class had these large wooden blocks, and the teacher came up with a design, executed by the students, for a block building. My recollection is that it did have a roof, though I don’t remember how that was accomplished. The building was big enough for small people to walk into, and served as our post office. Shoes boxes were stacked along the back wall, with a name on each and a slot cut into the end. That was the first Valentine’s Day I remember. It was pretty exciting dropping the little envelopes into the slots.

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  4. I have fond memories of making the valentines collection boxes. I mad robots and rolling doors and it never dawned on my how that was all part of my future. But it all ties together; watching dad make stuff and the farm and LEGO and model airplanes and theater sets. Isn’t that interesting. Never lose the imagination kids!

    I remember several years ago telling someone they had a smudge on their head. It never dawned on me that it was Ash Wednesday. I don’t remember our church doing that. Or maybe we didn’t go.

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  6. Another memorable Valentine’s Day, wasband number one and I went out to dinner, cards, gifts and when I opened my gift, it was a gift certificate to a wallpaper and paint store. Not the most romantic thing I’ve ever received.

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  8. Rise and Shine, Baboons,

    I am neither friend or foe of Valentine’s Day. But my Elementary school, Franklin School in LeMars, Iowa, did have a Miss Mary Valentine, third grade teacher, in the building. Her name got a lot of attention on those days. We did the decorated shoe box to collect valentines, and thankfully, we were required to give everyone a valentine. No one got left out. The cards with candy were the favorites. Do they still make the colored candies with words on them? Love, Sweetie, Cutie Pie, etc. They did not taste good though.

    I have never invested much in Valentines Day. I learned years ago that the most romantic verbage produced the worst possible relationships.

    I finished organizing our taxes today. WaHooooo! I do not enjoy that job.

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  9. i don’t have any memorable valentine’s day in my brain. that kind of holiday

    debbie says don’t bother

    i used to do roses and candy and i think when the kids were little i used to give red socks

    i have memories of ash wednesday as a recovering catholic no conflicts for me i don’t think over heard this conflict before

    when was the last ash wednesday valentine’s day match up?

    double issue adds to infrequency

    love you all baboons have a good one. and to all you practicing catholics

    tell your partner to kiss you ash

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    1. i was inspired

      a couple innocent hints

      shamrock shakes are out and while son spencer the foodie is making lamb chops for his partner deb said she likes her lamb in gyros so….

      a stop for a gyro from the greek grill and a shamrock accompanied my limp home from grub hub tonight to a non candle lit dinner in front of the price is right for my romantic moment of 2024

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  10. Being perennially single, I’m a Valentine’s Day Scrooge. Bah! Humbug! It’s a Hallmark holiday designed to make people buy stuff, so certain retailers don’t lose too much income after Christmas. It creates expectations and causes disappointments. I guess I’m cynical about it. Bah. Humbug. Gimme the wine and I’ll be just fine. I certainly don’t need the chocolates.

    I have a vague recollection of making little paper Valentines and giving them to everyone in my class in elementary school. I remember those little candy hearts with sayings on them too, but I don’t remember where they came from – certainly not my parents. We weren’t allowed candy. My dad was a dentist and took our dental health seriously. It’s probably why I have such a sweet tooth now.

    OT: If you are a facebook user, make sure you have 2-factor authentication set up on your account. My friend was hacked and she can’t get her own account secured. She will probably have to close her account and start over. It sounds like the hacker got her phone number. I have had 2-factor authentication set up for a few years, but I did change my password. My account appears to be fine but I logged out and decided I won’t be using facebook for awhile.

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  12. I, too, remember bringing a shoebox from home to make a valentine “mailbox” in grade school. 

    Also agree with Krista about the hallmark holiday – so many businesses had Valentine’s displays out on January 2nd.

    Best valentines I’ve ever received were homemade ones from Husband before we were married – I still have a couple…

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  14. I made peanut butter cup tassies for the neighborhood kids and decorated them with little frosting hearts. Delivered them with a little handmade Valentine card. Then for YA I made a really fancy fold card with lots of hearts all over it and bagged up the leftover valentine, peanut butter cups and presented it all with some black cherry energy drink! 

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