Happy Valentines Day!

I know its a few days late, but Happy Valentines Day. I hope everyone had a good one. I had a good one. This is the first time since we've been together that we were actually able to celebrate on the actual day. This year Paul was actually scheming a little get away. He tried to keep it a surprise but it fell through. We have some friends who have a timeshare in Midway who were kind enough to let us use it, if they could get it that weekend. Unfortuantely, that didn't work out. Thats ok though. It kind of happened last minute, so Paul came up with a great idea. He brought the hotel to me. It was sweet and romantic. We actually celebrated on Saturday. We went minature golfing. That has always been one of our favorite dates. We decided the weather was actually nice enough. It was fun. We played both courses and had the whole place to ourselves. It did start to sprinkle in the end, we figure we always get caught in the rain. Last time we were at the same golf course it started pouring. It was fun though. Paul is so sweet to me. Anyways after golfing we went to Timpanyakis (not sure of spelling). That is my favorite place to eat. They have the best fried noodles. We also went to Gardner Village just to walk around and go in some shops. When we got home, I walked in and found the house straightened up, roses on the table, and a check in greeting welcoming me to Casa De Amour. It was sweet. It was an itineray of things we would be doing and having breakfast in bed and stuff like that. He bought my favorite treats for a movie night and even let me pick the movie. Of course it was a chick flick. He is such a good sport about that, most of the time. It was a fun, sweet, and romantic Valentines. Thanks Paul for being such a great husband and for making this such a fun holiday. I'm very lucky to have you, there is never really a dull moment. I love that.

We were also lucky to have a visit from my Aunt that weekend. She was here visiting from California with some of her girlfriends and came to stay at my moms for a night. We met up with her Saturday morning, and got to go out to a fun lunch with the family. It was fun just to see her even if it was for a couple of hours.

On Sunday, we had a Valentines/Feb. birthday dinner at the in-laws. Most of the Gardiner birthdays are in the middle of Feb and go throgh the middle of March. So we got together and had a fun dinner. Its always fun to get together with the family. We got loaded with a lot of Valentines goodies. It was a fun day altogether. I hope your celebrations were fun.

I love just the feeling of being loved. It doesn't matter who from. Its nice to know that Love exists. I've got to quit rambling now. Happy Valentines!

SuperBowl 2010

This year Paul and I were invited to my sister-in-law and brother-in-laws home for a small get together. We had a great time. They planned fun food, games, and company. Even though most of us were going for the Colts, me included, I was happy for the Saints. They have a great story. Overall, It was a fun game to watch.

I'm sure if they could, They would open their home to everyone. They are just those type of people, but They are kind of in the same boat as Paul and I, we just don't have enough room in our home to have a bunch of people over. We can't even fit our t whole family. This is a picture of the guests who attended.

Paul and I posing for a quick snap shot. Paul was having fun goofing off for the camera. Rachael has one of those pics on her blog.

I'm just realizing I didn't put these pictures in the order I wanted to, but this one is of Sarah. Her and Rachael planned the party for us. Sarah came up with a fun bingo game we played through out the game. She also brought a delicious Cold Stone Icecream cake.

This should have been the first picture. They didn't get any of pics of them while we were there, but this is the wonderful couple who hosted the party. Thanks Rachael and Josh for a fun time. We look forward to the next one!
I'm bummed I didn't have my camera. Thanks Rach for letting me steal some pics. They turned out great.

Legends and Traditions of Valentine's Day

I found this article about Valentines Day and its history and legends and thought it would be appropriate for this time of year. I think its interesting how it came about and the many legends that Valentines Day has to offer.

A History of Valentine's Day

There are many differing sources as to the origin of Valentine's Day.

The oldest history is that St Valentine's Day falls on the Eve of Lupercalia, the Pagan Roman festival of fertility. The holiday was not dedicated to a particular god. Augustan writers speculated it might belong to a number of gods: Faunus (the Roman Pan), Inuus (the "Goer-in") and Augustus, in a fit of reform, decided it was meant to honor the god "Lupercus".

The 14th of February was the day specially set aside for love lotteries in Pagan Rome. This holiday was devoted to Juno, Queen of the Gods, and patroness of marriage, the 14th was also the day on which young girls' names were written on slips of paper and thrown into jars to be picked out by the boys. Chooser and chosen would then be partnered for the duration of the Lupercalia festival. These arbitrary pairings often resulted in lasting relationships. Later the Catholic Church substituted the names of dead saints in place of those of flesh-and-blood girls to subvert the lusty Pagan practice.

The Lupercalia began on the 15th of February with animal sacrifice and ritual flagellation. After slaughtering a goat and dog in the sacred grotto of the she-wolf who suckled the legendary founders of Rome, the young men would run through the streets whipping women and crops with the flayed hide of the goat to promote fertility. Archaeological evidence suggests that the Lupercalia, far from being restricted to Rome, was practised in other cities in Italy and Gaul.

Dating from remotest antiquity, the Lupercalia was celebrated until as late as the reign of Anastasius I in 491-518 CE. At the end of the 5th century in 498 CE Pope Galesius decided to dedicate the Eve of Lupercalia to the long-dead priest St Valentine. The lottery system was then banned as being un-Christian and the Pope did his best to make people forget about other un-Christian ideas such as fertility.

Pope Galesius choose Saint Valentine because he was martyred for refusing to give up his Christian beliefs and since he died on February 14, 269 A.D., the same day that had been devoted to love lotteries; he thought this was a fitting way to turn the pagans away from celebrating Lupercalia.

Legends also state that St. Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer's daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it "From Your Valentine".

Other aspects of the story say that Saint Valentine served as a priest at the temple during the reign of Emperor Claudius. Claudius then had Valentine jailed for defying him in 496 A.D. Thus, Pope Gelasius set aside February 14 to honour St. Valentine.

However, the Pagan principles of the people proved irrepressible. Memories of the Roman Lupercalia combined with folkloric legends, in Britain and France, that the 14th of February marks the beginning of the mating season amongst birds allowed the people to continue celebrating Valentines Day as a day of love. The reason for this assumption is somewhat clouded, but may be related to the fact that the first songbirds in Europe which traditionally warble after a blustery winter tend to debut in mid-February. One of the earliest written examples of this belief was penned by Geoffrey Chaucer (1340/45-1400), an English poet and vintner, in his "Parliament of Fowls," the literal meaning of which is "Meeting of Birds." Chaucer's poem was penned to honor the grand wedding of Richard II of England to Anne of Bohemia, which took place in January of 1382.

"For this was sent on Seynt Valentyne's day
When every foul cometh ther to choose his mate."
--Chaucer--

This custom was also recorded by Michael Drayton (1563-1631), an English poet from Warwickshire, in his poem entitled "To His Valentine" and again by Robert Herrick (1591-1674), generally considered to be the greatest of the Cavalier poets.

"Each little bird this tide
Doth chose her beloved peer,
Which constantly abide
In wedlock all the year."
--Drayton--

"Oft have I heard both youth and virgin say
Birds choose their mates, and couples too, this day;
But by their flight I never can divine,
When I shall couple with my Valentine."
--Herrick--

The oldest Valentine message in existence is a poem written by Charles, Duke of Orleans, in 1415 to his wife. He had good reason to write: he was imprisoned in the Tower of London after being captured at the Battle of Agincourt.

Je suis desja d'amour tanné
Ma tres doulce Valentinée…

--Duke of Orleans--

Valentines day messages then became a popular idea and some years later it is believed that Henry V hired John Lydgate to compose a Valentine missive to Catherine of Valois.

Over time, February 14 became the day for exchanging love letters and St. Valentine became the patron saint of lovers, because the Catholic Church was still attempting to eradicate all reminders of the Roman pagan holiday. The date was marked by sending poems and simple gifts such as flowers. There was often a social gathering or a ball.

In Great Britain during the 1700s, a very popular custom on the Eve of Valentine's Day, was for ladies to pin five bay leaves sprinkled with rose water on there pillows...one leaf pinnned to the center and one to each corner. Eggs with salt replacing the removed yokes were then consumed before retiring for the evening. Before going to sleep, the lady would recite the following little prayer:

"Good valentine, be kind to me; In dreams, let me my true love see."

If this charm worked, she would see her future husband in her dreams. English children would dress up as adults and go singing from home to home. One such verse was:

"Good morning to you, valentine;
Curl your locks as I do mine--
Two before and three behind.
Good morning to you, valentine."

Another custom was for people to call out,

"Good morning, 'tis St. Valentine's Day."

The person who was succesful as saying this first was expected to receive a present.

In Wales, wooden love spoons would be carved and given as gifts. Favored decorations for the spoons were hearts, keys and keyholes...the decorations meaning "You unlock my heart!

All over Europe it was also believed that if a woman noticed a Robin flying overhead on Valentine's Day, it meant she would marry a sailor. If a sparrow, she would marry a poor man, but be very happy. If she saw a goldfinch, it was said that her husband would be a man of great wealth.

In "The Golden Bough" written by Sir James Frazer, it is written that during a pre-Lenten celebration in the town of Épinal in the Vosges region of France, bonfires were lit and young towns folk went from door-to-door pairing-up couples who were then forced to participate in a mock marriage. Later they were required to walk arm-in-arm around the fire, these couples had to exchange gifts intended as ransom or redemption. These gifts were known as féchenots and féchenottes...or Valentines.

Gardiner Family News....

IT'S OFFICIAL! My in-laws have been called to serve in a Salt Lake inner-city mission. They were officially set apart tonight. A few weeks ago at a family dinner, they announced they were wanting to serve a service mission for our church. From there, everything has happened so fast. We got the call on Saturday saying they have been called, they won't officially have the calling until Saturday when they go to the first training. They also asked if we would be able to come to see them set apart tonight. I knew I could make it. What I didn't know is if Paul could. Thats the bad part about having to work at night. Luckily, somethings still had to be taken care of so his manager was staying late so he let Paul leave for a little bit to come be part of this.
As the family gathered in the bishops office tonight, there was an overwhelming feeling of the spirit with us. To me personally, it was amazing to see all of the family together minus the grandkids for this experience for their parents. I love knowing that Families Are Forever. Sitting there tonight, I realized how lucky and thankful I am to be a part of this wonderful family. I'm thankful for the examples my in-laws are being. I can't wait for Paul and I to be able to serve a mission in the future. It was awesome that when they asked everyone who holds the priesthood and is worthy to be able to help set them apart. Every Male in our family stood up and participated.That to me, was amazing to see. I'm glad Paul was able to be there for that. I'm thankful for what Paul is to me. He is my best friend and my partner for Eternity. I'm so happy that he was able to take me through the temple. I'm anxious to be able to raise a family with him and to share Eternity with him. Experiences like tonight make you sit back and count your blessings. The Gardiner family has been a huge blessing in my life and I'm proud and happy to be a member of their family.

Silly Love Quotes...

I consider myself a romantic and always have. When I was younger I use to dream about who I would date, who I would marry, what dating and love would be like, and many other things. I just loved love stories and happy endings. I always dreamed of my happily ever after. So I was looking through a journal of mine the other day and found some quotes I had put in there. These are quotes that I liked or meant something to me at the time. With Valentines Day coming up, and with it being February and the month of love, I thought I'd share some of these.

If I never met you, I wouldn't like you. If I didn't like you, I wouldn't love you. If I didn't love you, I wouldn't miss you. But I did, I do, and I will.
-- Author Unknown

Love doesn't make the world go 'round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.
-- Franklin P. Jones

Love is like an eternal flame, once it is lit, it will continue to burn for all time.
-- Kamila

Once in awhile, right in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairy tale.
-- Author Unknown

This is my wish for you: Comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, rainbows to follow the clouds, laughter to kiss your lips, sunsets to warm your heart, hugs when spirits sag, beauty for your eyes to see, friendships to brighten your being, faith so that you can believe, confidence for when you doubt, courage to know yourself, patience to accept the truth, Love to complete your life.
-- Author Unknown

True love is like a pair of socks you gotta have two and they've gotta match.
-- Author Unknown

When you smiled you had my undivided attention. When you laughed you had my urge to laugh with you. When you cried you had my urge to hold you. When you said you loved me, you had my heart forever.
-- Author Unknown

Dance as though no one is watching you. Love as though you have never been hurt before. Sing as though no one can hear you. Live as though heaven is on earth.
-- Author Unknown

There are many more, but I'll just leave it at that. Hope all of you have a wonderful February!

2009... The good and the bad

I really hope I'm not too late for this post. I saw this on my sister-in-laws blog and really liked the idea of reviewing 2009, so I'm stealing her idea. Thanks Rachael :) Anyways 2009 was quite eventful. Some things I would totally love to happen again, but some things i'm glad they are done and over with and won't happen. Here is an inside scoop to our life in 2009.

January: I totally love the start of a new year. My grandma was in town so we had a few family dinners and family get togethers. They are always fun. I didn't start this year out the best though. I had car trouble. My car was old and pretty much died on me and didn't pass safety and emissions. That was the bad news. The good news I got a new car. I now have a Honda CRV and am totally loving it. We also went to Desert Star with some really good friends of ours. We love doing date nights with Gen and Adrian. We continued to have many fun nights through out the year.

February and March: These 2 months usually go together for us. I love celebrating Valentines with Paul, but that is pretty much the only highlight of our month this year. The most eventful thing is the birthday celebrations for the Gardiner side. Most of the family have February and March birthdays. We had fun celebrating everyone's birth days. Paul's birthday is in March. We had fun going out to celebrate. This year I gave him a skydiving trip, which has yet to be used. We are planning on it for this current year. We had a lot of things happening that we were unable to go during the right season. In the beginning of February Paul did surprise me with a weekend getaway to Hines Mansion. Its a bed and breakfast in Provo. It was way fun and romantic. I love get aways with him.

April: Paul finished a semester of school. Almost done with SLCC. Yea! We also celebrated our 4th anniversary. 4 down Eternity to go! We went to Ruby Rivers for the first time. Awesome Steak!

May: We took our annual trip to California. This year we went with my sister-in-law and brother-in-law. It was way fun. It was Joshs' first time at DisneyLand. It was fun to be there with them. We stayed with my grandma and went to the San Juan Capistrano mission, Balboa, more beaches, and just spent time with some of my family there. California is always a great trip.

Now for the summer months. This summer was the summer of weddings. It was fun, but kinda got exhausting. Most of them were for family members.

June: We celebrated my birthday, my brothers graduation, and 2 of my sisters got married. Three of these things happened in the first week of June. My dad came a day before my birthday which was a nice surprise for me. We went out to lunch and just got to spend the day together. I also got a new niece on my birthday. Becky and Rhett welcomed the 1st grand-daughter on the Gardiner side. My brother graduated a few days later, 2 days after that my sister got married. I was in the wedding. The next week one of my other sisters got married. June was a month full of family events. Oquirrh Temple opened. It's beautiful. We also got to have my Grandpa and Kathy stay with us for my sisters wedding. I liked having the time to get to know Kathy better. Its fun seeing her make my grandpa laugh. They are cute together and she makes him happy.

July: Mary and Ryan got married! They went through Draper Temple. It was my first time there since we missed the open house. It's beautiful and has amazing views. There sealing rooms are beautiful. We spent the 4 of July with my Aunt at her house, then we all went to Riverton to do the rides and games they had there. I think that was the first time Paul had funnel cake. Fireworks were awesome.

August: One of Paul's best friends got married in Idaho. I had only been to Idaho one other time for EFY years ago. We left early day of the wedding, and met up with some friends in Malad for lunch. We went to a ma and pa diner (forgot name) and they had the best scones. Because we got to visiting we barely made it to the temple. They got married in Idaho Falls temple. We got there a few minutes late and they still let us in. Luckily though we weren't the very last ones and they let somebody in like 15 min. after us. I didn't feel too bad. We went to the luncheon after at Katie's family's house. It was fun. The reception wasn't til the next day. We didn't know if we wanted to stay or not. They were coming a few weeks later to South Jordan so we were planning on that one. We just didn't know what we would do with our time the next day. Some other friends had decided to stay and invited us to go to Yellowstone with them. So Saturday, before the reception we went to Yellowstone. It was our first time there. Luckily, we made it on time to see Ol Faithful and get back. We also went to the melting pots and took some fun pictures. It was just a fun day altogether. We also went to the reception in South Jordan.

September: Back to school. This month I decided I wanted to go back to. I'm doing a medical transcription program and will be done in April. I can see the end coming. I have enjoyed my classes. Since Sept. Paul has finished a semester and had all A's. I'm very proud of him. He still has awhile, but it will be so worth it in the end.

October: Holidays start. I love when Halloween comes around for a couple of reasons. Paul gets very excited. Next to Christmas Halloween is his favorite. He has so much fun with it. I love when he gets all excited. And its the start of the holiday season. We had some friends over for Halloween and we learned a new game, Bang the Bullet. I highly recommend this game. Its fun with a big group. Paul and I went out and bought it and its fun but not with 2 people.

November: We did Thanksgiving with Pauls family. We went and saw New Moon. Sarah and JJ welcomed baby Jackson into the family. He is my first nephew on my side of the family. Paul and I are lucky to now have 3 nephews and 2 nieces. They are all so much fun to be around.

December: In N Out opened here in Utah. We also got together with some friends and did a holiday dinner. Danny did most of the cooking. He's in culinary school and thats awesome, cause everyone knows how much I don't like to cook. In my defense though, I do cook and I try. I'm getting better, but I still don't like it. My grandma came out for Christmas. I love when she is in town. She came for a couple of weeks. I just hope she can actually have a normal trip out here some time. While she was here, my mom had to move. Her house wasn't quite ready so she moved in with my sister for what was supposed to be a couple of weeks at most. It ended up being a month. But luckily her house is done and its beautiful. Another fun thing for me was that my stepmom gave my dad his Christmas gift early. That was a ticket to come out and spend Christmas with us this year. This was the first time he has been to Utah for christmas. We usually go see them. The last time I spent Christmas with him was my Jr. year of HS. We missed you Stacy, but thanks for sending him our way for Christmas. We also went to the Allred Christmas party this year. It was fun. I love this time of year to be able to catch up with everyone. We ended the year by having a New Years Eve party at our place. We rented the club house and played games and ate food all night. It was fun. Happy 2010 everyone!

Thats pretty much 2009 for us. I just want to say that I think we have the best family and friends ever! Thank you for being part of our lives and for all the fun times we've had with you. If I actually had the patience and time I know this post couldve been longer. Paul and I just like living life. We love spending time with our family. They are the best support group when needed. I know this year hasn't been easy and all good things, but i'm glad we don't dwell on it and look forward to the future. We love being able to go out and have fun with our friends. We enjoyed plenty of date nights alone and with friends this year too. We love you all.