A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....02-14-05...Sweet Hearts (A Valentine Story)

Billie

[Billie]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

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~ Billie, Mama_Bear, Dutchess, Dansangel, Aquamarine ~

Happy Sweet Hearts Day!

I found the following story in the February 2005 issue of "Better Homes and Gardens" and thought it would be a sweet Valentine thread for the Finest. Hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did.

by Helen St. Marie

"Love is free, but oh, how it costs," was a favorite saying of my mother's. And every Valentine's Day our love, whether for friends, relatives, or a secret someone, cost plenty of time and effort.

As children, we made our own cards, elaborate projects of lace, ribbons, and more. If we wanted to add something and we couldn't find it at home, we had to pay for it at the stationery store. It made you think twice about who to give your heart to.

When it came o sweets, we made those too: cookies, brownies, and two kinds of fudge.

As good as it was, you always want what you don't have, and we coveted those gorgeous heart-shape boxes of candy and other packaged goodies that appeared in the window of the five-and-dime store every February. Yet for most of my childhood I can't recall a single time that we ever got a piece of store-bought Valentine's Day candy.

And then one year, we did.

Hidden in our napkins at suppertime on February 14, each of us found a little bundle of candy hearts, the ones with the little message on each: Kiss me, Be Mine, Cutie Pie, and so many others.

I later learned that the New England Confectionary Company (NECCO, home of the famous wafer) had been making their candied messages by the millions since 1902, but this was the first time anyone had given them to me. They must have come from Mother, although she never said anything about them and never would. But every Valentine's Day thereafter, it became a tradition, one that has surprised and delighted my children and now their kids.

At NECCO, I learned, they have a tradition too: Every year they add new messages to the hundred or so that already exist. Last Valentine's Day, "Fax Me" and "Awesome" were among the messages my grandchildren found in their napkins. The words have changed through the years, but the hearts remain constant.

Of course, making your own Valentines and baking your own treats are still two of the best ways I know to show someone you love them. But if those sweet candy hearts have taught me anything, it's the importance of indulging the impulsive side of love, the side that makes us do foolish or unexpected things, whether it's stealing a kiss, serenading a sweetheart, or wrapping a message of love in a child's napkin.

by Helen St. Marie
for Better Homes and Gardens

THIS WEEKEND'S THREAD 02-11,12,13-05 T.G.I.F. at the Finest

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
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12-29-04 ~ Hall of Fame #10

[tuliptree76]

Happy Valentine's Day to Everyone at the Finest!

[dutchess]

Happy Valentine's to all our Finest Friends

[JustAmy]

Thanks for today's thread.
Your presentation is beautiful, as always. :)

Happy Valentine's Day everyon!

[jwfiv]

Hi Billie ... beautiuful and sweet thread you weave this morning.

Wishing all the Finest guys and dolls a most wonderful day.

The Beatles once said "the love you take is equal to the love you make" ... but, I think the Good Lord has a way of tipping the scales and giving us a little more than we can muster all by ourselves.

May the King of Love bless us all ... )

[Billie]

Billie, this is a beautiful thread. Thank you!

Thank you, Meg. Have a happy day. Eat chocolate. :)

[Billie]

Below are names of some of our FReepers' loved ones who are serving our country. If you have someone you would like to add, please address a post to Billie; Mama_Bear; Dutchess; Dansangel; Aquamarine, and we will add their name to this list. As we pray for them, we pray also for all our nation’s leaders, and military personnel, and their families and friends. May God hold them close to His heart.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Maigrey...................cousin OhioWfan........................son mystery-ak..........son, husband Gogrammy................grandson Inspectorette...................son Blessed American..........nephew Slip18..........................nephew anniegetyourgun...........nephew Diver Dave.......niece, nephew ConspiracyGuy........2 nephews Pippin..........niece, loved one Pippin...nephew & his fiancee weldgophardline.....brotherinlaw jamaly.................brotherinlaw Future Snake Eater..........cousin WaterDragon.............grandson WaterDragon...........son-in-law BeforeISleep...................son kimmie7......................brother Armymarinemom............3 sons american_ranger.............son LadyX.........................grandson fawn796.......................nephew Dubya............................nephew StarCMC......................brother ValerieUSA..................2 sons Lakeside......................2 sons LakeLady.....................nephew Spruce.....................daughter Philman_36..............2 nephews bjcintennessee.......son, niece Ladysmith..nephew, friend's son tina07......soninlaw & his friend Katydidnt..........................son MontanaCowgirlCop.......brother Colorado Slim................nephew Tapatio.........................2 nephews Warrior Nurse...........active duty SK1 Thurman...........active duty David Osborne.........active duty fc2tomschermuly......active duty bkwells..................active duty LongCut..................active duty cjk..........................active duty Trish.......................active duty ODC-GIRL.................active duty AF_Blue..................active duty Notwithstanding.....active duty thumperusn.............active duty Q6-God.....................active duty Q6-God...................twin brother Veloxherc.................active duty Don Simmons...........active duty wingnutx..................active duty Old Sarge................active duty

Mama_Bear.........2 nephews ladtx........................2 sons Its_me_K.E.T...................son gator girl.................husband severa.......husband, brother Hostel......................cousin MozartLover......son, nephew LBGA...............................son katykelly......................son cookcounty.....................son SpookBrat...nephew, cousin Doug from Upland...son-in-law Himyar..........................son boxerblues................2 sons the piper.........................son sheeza.......................husband kemathen7.................husband Tiffee4Bob.................boyfriend deadhead......................cousin JimRobinson.........2 nephews TexKat..............son, step-son Consort..2 daughters,son-in-law Darheel.........................niece Donaeus......................nephew dixie sass...................nephew BeAllYouCanBe...................son Repubmommy...............brother AgThorn.........................2 sons homeschoolmama.......nephew kneezles.............................son Rose inRoseBear...cousin's hubby Redhead....step-granddaughter Redhead..step-grdaughter fiance Atomic Conspiracy..half-brother Atomic Conspiracy...nephew Atomic Conspiracy..........niece Sunflowergal..............grandson visualops.......................cousin Alouette..............................son mrstank.......................husband MrsMike31..................husband eaglesiniowa.........................son auboy..................................cousin spotbust1.......................husband Leofl......................................son chena......................................son campfollower.......................fiance LUV W.........................................son painter................................nephew ProudAFDad.................................son TheMayor...........................friends'son mhking.....................................cousin Misty4jc................................husband Bykrbayb......................................son Hope and Glory..........................son

[Billie]

Oh, goodie! Hugs from JH! Hi, there, you!

Happy Valentine's Day!

[Billie]

Hi, Aeronaut. Happy Valentine's Day to you, too!

[Billie]

WELCOME BACK!

Thank you, Miss Pippie! Hope the pc stays stable for a while now!

Happy Valentine's Day.

[phancypants]

Happy Valentine's Day!!

[Mama_Bear]

To my sistahs and friends......
Happy Valentine's Day!

[Mama_Bear]

Darn it! I MEANT to use this graphic for today's ping post.....

Awwwwwww......that's so cute. And, look, there is FReezie out in left field again. LOL!! ;-)

We love you FReezie. Happy Valentine's Day to you and your valentine!

[Temple Owl]

Happy Valentine's Day Billie and FReepers everywhere.

[Billie]

[dutchess]

Hi Sistah billie. What a delightful thread today!!! Used to love those little hearts as a child! (don't tell anyone but still do) Love what you did with the border too!!!! (((((billie)))))

[Billie]

Hi, nic - pretty valentine, thank you!

[Billie]

Afternoon, Gabz!

Happy Balentine! :)

[Billie]

Good afternoon to the one who makes sure our cups always runneth over.

[Billie]

Okay, wolfie, get over here and get and give your valentine hugs!

[Billie]

Thanks for the link to your Valentine thread, Cal. It's nice to hear from you again. We like the same basket of hearts! This one fell out and it's growing. :)