Yesterday was Valentines Day.  Yesterday was also the anniversary of the legend of the green hippo.  If you don’t know that story or want another opportunity to laugh at me, feel free to read it again in Sex, Lies & the Truth – Pt 3 of 3 – The Truth.

I’m trying to grow up, grow more appreciative, take my Valentine less for granted, show the love I think of, feel the love that lives within and follow her example of generosity.

I worked a fourteen-hour day yesterday, but I still got a couple things right.

Mario Manningham, the NY Giants wide receiver was a good receiver in 2010, but the 18th worst at catching the football this year.  Fortunately, when it mattered most he caught the football that helped save the season for the Super Bowl winning Giants. 1

Most of us live life like Manningham, success one moment and we fail the next.  We want to be the best but stumple into stupid fights with the people we love the most.  It’s a those times we need to be the clutch player and choose to do what’s most needed.

Clutch At Home

Cuts lined her arms.
He drinks himself into oblivion.

She chases after “Mr. Perfect.”
He’s looking to “hit it.”

She’s settling.
He’s settling.

You must love yourself before you can love another.

Accept yourself for who you are, but don’t “settle.”
- Don’t let addictions stand in your way.
- Don’t let lies blind you.
- Don’t let self-pity poison your heart.

“You’re better than that!!!”  That’s mysilentscream.

On more than one occasion someone has suggested that I am competitive. The truth is they’re right, but it’s much deeper than that “I am competitive.”

Broomball

I learned to play broomball courtesy of Bethel U’s VP Ralph Gustafson. In 1987 Ralph was the youth pastor of Bethel Baptist Church of Green Bay, WI. I was Ralph’s “Youth Ministry Associate” or some such title. I worked long hours, got paid for a few and loved my boss and the teens so much I volunteered the rest of the time.

Yesterday was the 26th anniversary of the day I asked Amy out. Yesterday was also the day the server failed to save our post explaining the gamble that was the day that Amy said “Yes!”.

Guest Post by Amy Volltrauer

Scott and I had known each other for a couple of months and had talked about going out. I knew that Scott might ask me out soon, but I didn’t know when.  I thought Scott might ask me out as part of a conversation.

The Banner

Today is the 26th anniversary of the day I asked Amy out.

Today Amy and I wrote a sweet piece about the gamble she took when she said “Yes.”

Unfortunately, the gamble that I wish that I didn’t take was to hit the “Save” button without copying and pasting into another document.  The server was down and we lost everything.

Amy: I’m sorry.
Scott: Wanna rewrite it.
Amy: No.

Well there you have it.

We laughed, and then we laughed again when I typed “We laughed”.

We will (re-)tell the rest of the story tomorrow.

Mortal Kombat, the classic video game introduced ‘Fatalities’.1  A fatality is usually a lethal final move that defeats a foe. Fatalities were often cruel and unusual means of exterminating an opponent.

Sound familiar?

Ever felt like a former best friend finished you off with a fatality? Ever sat in a lunchroom watching with morbid curiosity as people who used to be lovers are now involved in a death match? Ever squared off with your boyfriend, girlfriend or spouse wondering if this was the end?

My hope is that after reading this you will no longer choose to use your fatality moves.

Guest post by Amy Volltrauer

The Legend of the Hippo Pillow

A little set up.

I am a traditionalist and had been looking forward to when I had a boyfriend on Valentine’s Day and what special gift he would give. So needless to say, I had expectations.

Scott on the other hand is a non-traditionalist and hates having to live up to the expectations put on him by marketing, etc. And we didn’t know each other well enough yet to know these things about each other.

Hence the story.

I cannot begin to guess how many people have trusted me with their relationships.  They’ve shared their triumphs and their troubles.  As I’ve  listened I’ve learned.  Some lessons I’ve learned better than others.

Excursus – Ahem, I’M SORRY Amy, you’ve deserved better!

This week while listening to the insights and wisdom of our TreeHouse teens as they discussed — or should I say “disgust!” — the subject of LOVE I felt both sad and hopeful.

What if they knew what I’ve learned from so many others?

What if they applied principles, practices and standards to their relationships that help others love one another?

Today I received a text intended for someone else:

“im sorry i know it doesnt matter to you , its juss i dont have anyone to talk too . soo i juss wanna let it out . [The guy’s name] im sorry for whatver i did to make you unhappy , im sorry if i ever hurt you in any type of way . i love you tooo much too ever walk away from you </3 itss sooo hard to not love you . idint know you had this side to you , i was  alwayss there for you … i wass theree when you cryed , i was there all the times you hurt . i really tryed to alwayss be there for you </3 im sorry . thankyou for atleast loving me once back then :”(  & thankss for atleast pretending to love me 3 dayss ago, cause i actually did believe you </3 but juss know as hard as i try too , ill never forget you & ill never ever stop loving you </3”