Share the Love...

Valentine's Day has been a transformed holiday for me. I used to dress in all black (I believe I've mentioned this in previous posts) and celebrate with my girlfriends by overindulging in libations. When I met Jason it was just after Valentine's Day 2012, so our first Valentine's was just shy of a year dating. When asked where I wanted to go the answer was easy, one of my favorites, BONEFISH GRILL! (insert yummmm sound) That was 2013 so for 2014 we decided on the same. Traditions are kind of a big deal for me and this one included Bang Bang Shrimp...I'm in!

2013

(Our first Valentine's Day)

2014

(Our only engaged Valentine's Day )

This year I was just finishing up an Advocare 24 Day Challenge and ready to indulge a little. (Don't judge me!) We booked our reservations and I began dreaming of Bang Bang Shrimp and multiple glasses of wine. If you have ever worked in the restaurant industry, or even visited a restaurant on a holiday, you know very well how these reservations work. It is more of a "suggested" seating time. Our reservation was for 7pm and around 7:30 they called our name. J noticed an elderly couple that arrive before us had not been seated, but we were being escorted to our table. (I rewrote that scenario three times, hopefully it makes sense) At first, we didn't think much of it but then I overheard the man say they had been there since 6:45. We sat down, ordered my dreamy glass of wine and I asked J if they were still standing there. He confirmed and I felt the Lord nudge me to invite them to sit with us. It just so happened that they sat us at a table with four chairs, sometimes God couldn't send a message more clearly unless he face palmed my forehead. I looked at J and we both agreed to invite them to eat with us...share the love.

God is so good. He knows when we need something, even when we NEVER imagined it to happen. We enjoyed a wonderful dinner talking and laughing with this couple. The woman was a teacher and the man was a lawyer, both are retired now. Needless to say we had plenty to talk about. They said the last time someone randomly asked them to enjoy dinner with them was in 1970 in Hilton Head, SC. (They still talk to that couple today!) When we finished our meal we were ready to pay for ours with sweet gift cards we received for Christmas, but to our surprise this generous man insisted on taking care of all of it. (Bang bang and glasses of wine included!) J and I were blown away by his giving heart and blessed by an enjoyable evening of good food and great company. 

2014 

No pictures. 

My phone was in my purse during the entire dinner, just the way it should be. 

Sometimes the best memories aren't on a camera roll. 

I titled this post, 'Share the Love' because we need to do just that. If you can make someone smile, do it. If you can reach out and make someones day better, do it. Whether you are sharing the love with your husband, fiancé, boyfriend, best friend, brother, sister, mother, father, aunt, uncle, cousin, coworker, hair dresser, mailman/woman or a complete stranger...do it. A smile, an invitation, a hug, a note of love, anything. In a world of murder, hatred and terror, we need more smiles. More coffee dates. More hand written notes. More random acts of kindness. More random Valentine's dinners with strangers. More love. 

xoxo, 

mrs. r