Can you believe it's already the middle of February? It'll be June before we know it! 
We'd like to share an article from our newsletter and a health update:
It is that time of year again! The Christmas tinsel wasn't even off the tree, the Christmas wrappings hadn't even been disposed of, and the Christmas gifts didn't find their new homes before the window displays echoed shades of red, pink, and white and Hallmark had their card racks spilling over with hundreds of Valentines cards. (By the way, this doesn't encourage me to buy my card early; I don't buy mine until the day of… no rush in me… Chuckle!) The enticing displays of red heart boxes wrapped in dazzling foil, ribbons and lace all scream out "love is in the air"! Yes…the retailers make sure you don't miss the fact that Valentine's Day is coming!
I was teasing a waiter at a restaurant the other day and asked if he had a girlfriend, to which he responded and chuckled, "Yes, three of them!" I reacted in surprise and astonishment, "Boy, that's expensive!" To which he piped up, "That's why I don't get serious with a girl until after Valentine's Day; it costs too much money!"
LOVE…how does one describe it? We often think of love as a "thing" {a noun}, but in actuality, the word love is a "verb." Love must DO something in order to remain what it is. Part of the nature of love is that it requires expression—God is love! The Bible says in 1 John 3:17 (NKJV), "But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?" This makes it very plain that if we see a need and close our heart, how can the love of God live and remain in us? Love becomes weaker and weaker if it cannot be demonstrated, in fact, it may be snuffed out.
Sadly, this is where many find themselves as a result of love in its truest form, an action, not being exercised on a regular basis and thus debilitated…walking through broken relationships, divorce, hurt and loss. True love requires sacrifice and selflessness! There was no other such great expression of love and sacrifice as the definitive act when Jesus laid down His life for us. He was the ultimate Valentine's gift, wrapped not in lace and ribbon but rather in swaddling clothes. His Heavenly Father expressed His love through deed by giving His only Son to be born. Jesus then gave his most priceless gift — a sacrificial action—when he willingly gave His life on the cross so you and I could receive the supreme gift of love— SALVATION—that we might live forever if we receive this free gift offered to all. John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." Love is all about action and Jesus proved it!
This Valentine's Day, let's resolve to put LOVE IN ACTION. Let's share our love and concern for those who feel forgotten, rejected and unloved. Send a card, make a phone call, stop in for a visit, or give a gift. CHOOSE and then DO something to make their day!
Speaking of hearts – Larry and I are sweethearts, but also both experience some physical heart issues. At least we're happy to know we still have hearts! LOL! We made a trip back to Nashville 3 weeks ago to see our cardiologist and praise the Lord, Larry's blood clot was dissolved. They were able to shock his heart and get it running back in rhythm again. So he's up and running….slowly – ha! The cardiologist equipped both of us with heart monitors to record for a month, so we are wired! The first night I had mine on, Vanderbilt heart clinic in Nashville called immediately warning me I'd had a 30 minutes event happen with my heart. I thought so, but tried to ignore it was anything serious…until they called. Then they informed me I'd had another one after that.
Through the heart monitor readings the Cardiologist diagnosed that there is something going on and something very wrong with the electrical current in my heart. So…I'm scheduled again with Vanderbilt in Nashville with a specialist to determine what heart procedure they will do to correct it. We will keep you all posted. Keep praying for us, please.
PS. I have A-FIB… and Larry has
A-FLUTTER, so I guess it's fitting to
sign-off as:
"We love you,
FIB and FLUTTER"
How romantic! Ha!
It's been 51 years, and we're still one!
Have a wonderful Valentine's Day!
Gloria
REFLECTION
RECIPE
Mom's Red Velvet Cake
2 ½ c. cake flour
1 ½ c. sugar
1 c. buttermilk
1 ½ c. corn oil
2 eggs
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cocoa
1 tsp vinegar
1 tsp vanilla
2 oz. red food coloring
Mix all of the ingredients together and pour into a 9x13 inch cake pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.