I Have a Unique Gift for You on Valentine's Day !

It's Valentine's Day fellow lovers! It's time for us once again to celebrate the reality that love still exists -the universal love between couples, parent and child, sister and brother, two friends, one person and a total stranger, a person and a pet, etc., etc. From the biggest malls in the advanced cities the world over to the smallest booths in the poorest towns, we see innumerable gift ideas. They come in shapes as unusual gift, unique gift, personalized gift, gift for him, gift for her. Indeed Valentine's Day is a holiday of gifts!

 

I have unique gift for 10 of my blogger friends  although without their knowing it,  they have made my short stay in the internet a happy experience.  So I'm giving them their blogging award, The Happy 101 Award. Grab it, my friends. 

This was entrusted in my care by my sweet friend, Ms. Angelia Sims, Living, Loving, Laughing. Although she told me I don't have to do anything, I want to keep this tradition rolling so I 'm giving it away this Valentine's Day.

Here are the rules. If you are the lucky recipient, please perpetuate the award tradition as follows:

1. List 10 things that make you happy.
2. Try to do at list one thing on the list a day.
3. List 10 bloggers who brighten you day.
4. Those of you to whom I give this award are to link back to my blog, Senior Debutante, and perpetuate the Happy with your own list and recipients and whatnot.

 10 Things that Make Me Happy

1. The Father Almighty
2. My 2 daughters Pot and Kit
3. My brothers, sisters, and their families
4. The Epiphany of Our Lord Parish Church Choir  where I actively belong to
5. My doctors
6. The Basic Ecclessial Community I actively coordinate
7. My garden
8. My relatives, extended families, and friends
9. My glucometer,  my sphygmomanometer, my Diet Meal Plan
10. My new Asus Notebook PC

 10 Bloggers Who Make My Day

1. Ms. Angelia Sims, Living, Loving, Laughing- my multi-awarded blogger friend,  for entrusting me this prestigious award, my first ever award in my 5 months of blogging. She makes me feel proud of myself. Her colorful life she shares with Jason, Sydney, Molly, and Bridget- full of life, love, and laughter, sends the ripples that cross ocean barriers out to her friends, to which I'm included.

2. Ms. Ella Shaefer, Ellen in Amerika - this wonderful Dutch lady who emigrated with her family in the United States, describes vividly what life is in an adopted country, and shares it to her relatives and friends.

3. Meagan, PonchoMeg: The Modern Bohemian - she faces her uncertainties with courage and daring and enjoys life's uncertainties one at a time, and shares her thoughts about them.

4. Vania Moreira, Be my Guest in Rio - her nationalistic streak in the blood encourages her to showcase her place, the City of Rio de Janeiro, the "Wonderful City".

5. Rose Cotrill - Etcetera, Etcetera - she is a resilient and hardworking Filipina Mom and blogger who is friendly, bubbly, and is never a quitter.

6. Marichu Pagaru - Pink and Pot - she lightens my day with her personal blog about anything under the sun, exquisitely detailed.

7. Shy, A Journey For Life - she believes in living by learning from every mistake one makes and become a better person from it.

8. Emily Aulicino, Writing Your Memories - she writes a journal or diary of untold stories worth preserving in life.

9. Janera Healy, Just Me - she is a young Mom always up for rational debate and discussion.

10. L Avery Brown- When a Southern Woman Rambles - she loves blogging because of the freedom it gives her to write scores of things in a myriad of genres and loves every word of it.

I have another giveaway award, The beautiful  Seal of Approval Award,  to all bloggers in my blogroll, blogs I follow, to all my friends and communities. Don't be shy. Feel free to award it to yourself  for keeps. It's my way of saying "Thank You" for your visits and comments.

Congratulations my friends. Please keep the Happy 101 Award tradition rolling. This is a great

way to say, Happy Valentine's Everyone!

A Widower's/Widow's Wish List of Unique Gifts for Valentine's Day

Is your father a widower, or your mother a widow? Well, this is the best time for you to let  them know they are not alone this Valentine's Day. Wherever you may be,  show them  that you are there to fill the vacuum your other beloved parent had left due to their passing away. Surprise them with unique gifts this Valentine's Day. There are lots of unique gift ideas that are now surfacing in the internet ads, on display in malls and booths, everywhere you look.

Here, I have selected 2 Bible passages, that might encourage you and  make you understand why you should consider buying them a unique gift for the occasion.  If you haven't done  this in the past years when you believe they have already been healed your thoughtfulness will  make them happy in a unique way. They will surely love this.

Widowers/Widows past 60

"Honor widows who are really widows. But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to "repay their parents". for this is "good and acceptable before God". 1 Timothy 5:3-4

Widowers/Widows below 60

"And besides, they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies saying things which they ought not". "Therefore, I desire that younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak,reproachfully". 1 Timothy 5:13-14.

A Widower's/Widow's Wish List of Unique Gifts for Valentine's Day

10. Arrange in advance a mass and offering in his/her parish church for his/her dead spouse. Invite all the family members if feasible to attend the mass with him/her and march  with her to the sanctuary to give offerings in forms of flowers and fruits in colorful basket  arrangements. Bring the video cam to catch all the next activities for the day.

9. After attending the mass, surprise him/her with that  long-wished visit to the grave-site where the beloved spouse rests. Bring his/her favorite flowers and scented candles to make the visit real special. Make sure that the tomb is immaculately clean, sign that you'd been there  to add to the surprise.  Once there, have a family Bible service, pray the rosary together as one family for the repose of his/her soul.

8. Bring CD of the couples' theme love song to play to make the visit pleasant.

7. Before going home, drop at the most popular restaurant he/she have never set foot yet, one with lavish Valentine's decorations, and offers serenaders during mealtime. Let them play the couple's love song. Have him/her select his/her own food choice, not intervening for limit cues.

6. Surprise him/her with old photos you shared with his/her beloved spouse, particularly those with funny and candid memories. He/she will love to laugh once more.

5. Once at home, exchange pleasantries with one another by exchanging notes about your spouses, your children, and have him/her make comments, too.

4. Bring out their old wedding album and relive the happy moments  in it. Give him/her assuring comments that the lost spouse is now happy in heaven.

3. A soft touch, a kiss, a hug, need no words to say, you are always there for him/her.

2. If you are living away from home and would be leaving soon, drop an invitation for him/her to pay you a visit. Arrange for a suitable day to fetch him/her.

1. At the end of the day, bring out the best home cooked  menu for the family Valentine's Day celebration and celebrate with the whole clan. Keep the video cam working and promise to send him/her  copy for keeps.

And on top of all the day's surprises, give him/her a beautifully wrapped personalized gift. The following gift ideas may be of help in your search for the best gift for him and the most unforgettable unique gift for her.

  

Unique Gifts for Him

1. A personalized coffee / beer mug
2. A bottle of his favorite men's cologne
3. A pair of pants and a shirt to match
4. A collection of the latest CD movies and musicals
5. The latest pocketbook by his favorite author

Unique Gifts for Her

1. A new set of sewing tools in a beautiful box with her name engraved on top.
2. A bottle of that perfume she commented on you in your last visit but was ashamed to ask.
3. A collection of the latest CD movies and musicals
4. A new dress with matching bag and pump shoes
5. A new prayer book and a scented rosary to replace her worn-out ones

Widowers and widows have their distinct place inn this universal celebration of Valentine's Day., don't they? The absence of their partner must more than place them forward rather than relegate them to the background while the whole family is celebrating with them or worst, when  spending it away from them.

I'm a widow past my 60, and these are my personal thoughts. My kind are also humans in need of tender loving care. In the daily course of life, we have became sedentary but we are open to some pleasantries when they come by surprise. 

To lose a partner  is losing half of our lives. This void is filled by the love showered upon us by our children but nothing can  ever substitute the love of a partner. We just keep to ourselves this longing to be with our other half,  but naturally it's just that- secret longing, so as not to offend their best of intentions.

I say this because, my 2 daughters, understand my situation, due to  our openness to each other.

But how about those who are brushed  aside by their families after many years of observing them to have accepted the death of their loved one? It's not money they need most, that's arranged regularly by responsible children, of course. But an occasional "Hello, how are you today, how's your blood pressure, are you taking your medicines regularly?" are the best words we hear, the best love signs and endearment that mean we are not alone.

Well, if you have seemingly forgotten to keep in touch, grab that phone, take a minute to call up, to say "Hello Papa or Hello Mama", we and the kids are  coming home for our Valentine's celebration. Since the day is a week day, have it on the week end. Copy this list if you have none yet or add it to your prepared list if it may help. I'll be greatly honoured.

Isn't this a unique gift idea for your dear Papa or Mama? I'll love it if I'm your mother. Happy Valentine's Day.

The Story of St. Valentine ( as Interpreted in a Poem)

This story of St. Valentine is my adaptation. It  is my own interpretation in the form of  a poem. This is one of my former school childrens' favorites  during Valentine's Day, presented as  a speech choir.

Here it goes :

The Story of St. Valentine 
( as Interpreted in a Poem by Lita C. Malicdem)

It was many and many years ago, in a kingdom by the sea,

There lived a king  and a holy man, who made their names in history.

The Emperor was Claudius, the Second, who ruled in ancient Rome.

It was the third of century A.D., that  Fate destined this tragedy.

The other was a holy man, a Christian priest was he,

His name was Father Valentine, a good man as he was friendly.

At first they didn't know each other, they lived their different lives,

Although they were on the same land, they never met, all right.

The king had lived luxuriously,  in his kingdom by the sea.

With the strongest soldiers to protect him, against the invasion of his enemy.

The other was an ordinary priest, who had lived so very simply.

He read and taught the Book of life, that made his simple life holy.

The king was like any other king,  who always thought of  power.

He used his soldiers to conquer lands, and became a well-known master.

Many a battle his soldiers fought, they always won him honor.

For a battle won, one land conquered, the king was a greedy settler.

"I'm the King," said he, " In this kingdom by the sea,

Soon my men will conquer the world, then I'll be the Lord, you'll see".

His minister eyed at him sadly, "I'm afraid you won't", quoth he.

"Foolish minister, what did you say?, I own the world, can't you see?"

"Hear ye my Lord and please be calm,

We lost many soldiers in the battleground,

They were the kind we seldom find,

We've lost them all and we're now left behind."

It was their very first defeat, and the king couldn't believe it,

When at last he gathered his wits, "Go, send more men", he said with hate.

Away they went but never did better, the more battles fought,

Their loss became even greater.

Then one day, the whole kingdom heard, "Hear ye, hear ye, the king so ordered

That those of age 18 and higher, the king tells them to  register.

Every youth in the kingdom obeyed, for if they didn't, they would be killed.

All the men's wives and children pleaded, but the pleas were never heard.

The king continued to train more men, but their defeat was like an omen.

Their defeat when later found, the soldiers refused to fight for their land.

They were husbands with  families, who fought less in the wilderness.

They ran, they hid, they cowered in fear, they did so out of weariness.

The young ones were less aggressive too, for they have loved ones to return to.

"If this would always be so, then my Lord, what shall we do?"

"My minister, how wise of you, to tell me of what  they do.

Send the crier from town to town, I ban marriage in this whole kingdom".

All the king's men and all the king's women, all  shook theirs heads,

Those who disobeyed were grabbed and jailed,

Many who secretly asked to be married,

Were severely punished or mercilessly killed,

The kind priest whose ways were holy, comforted the people in his pity,

He defied the king and continued to wed, the couples in his own stead.

The king is wrong, he sadly prayed, " this is not what our God has said"

He lightened many hearts, in this  dark world, unmindful of the deadly sword.

But the king and  the man, were destined to meet, so a soldier revealed the secret.

That brought the king into a a furious feat, he sent for the man he wanted to meet.

"Find this man, and bring him to me, 'Cause I'm the king in this kingdom by the sea"

All the king's men looked far and wide, and brought the man near by his side.

"You didn't obey my very  law, now you must suffer the biggest blow,

You will stay in the darkest room, no food, no friend, until you humbly show.

Saint Valentine was therefore jailed, but still he didn't heed,

Many came to bring him food, flowers, and everything, indeed.

All done in great secrecy, he lived at least a life so holy.

He never complained, he had to suffer,  he fell in love to his jailer's daughter.

Yes, this man like any other, possessed love that shone forever.

His happiness he carried through, he loved his wife, as a secret lover.

Though his life in seclusion held, he continued to defy his cruel  master.

But then as Fate destined it though, the secret tryst was blown up through.

The king said in fiery words, "I'm the king, he must obey.

To defy my order it means so simply, he signed his  death in this kingdom by the  sea".

Soon the fateful day came, and the poor man in town was shown.

All men and women with their hearts bleeding, there was him not even pleading.

Tied up for all to see, " Your man with a lying heart, must die you see,

All you who conspired with him, be careful about your next scheme."

It was February 14 when death he embraced, his public execution was done with ease.

His grieving wife torn and crushed, all the people helpless, angry, but hushed.

The day after his sad end, the wife discovered a card with this emblem,

"From your Valentine", it said, and from that day, a celebration was held.

This story was known far and wide, it went round and round when he finally died.

That love knows no fear and  never dies, it  spreads like wild, in all kingdom of Christ.

It was many and many years ago, in this kingdom by the sea,

There lived a king and a holy man, who created "Valentine's Day".

 

This is my humble story which I enjoyed with my former pupils as a piece for a speech choir. It will stay forever, my memoir, a reminder, that love prevails even in the harshest test of time, like Valentine's. HAPPY VALENTINE's DAY!