Love is invincible facing danger and death.
Passion laughs at the terrors of hell.
The fire of love stops at nothing—
it sweeps everything before it.
Flood waters can’t drown love,
torrents of rain can’t put it out. 1

My friends Ashley and Jesse are getting married today!

Their relationship is years in the making.

Their infatuation has faded, but they still look at each other so sweetly.
Their infatuation has faded, but they still want to make one another happy.

How can they build on that kind of love?

How can you build on the love you have?

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.

“The passion of love bursting into flame is more powerful than death,
stronger than the grave. Love cannot be drowned by oceans or floods;
it cannot be bought, no matter what is offered.” 1

I wish I loved, and loved my Valentine more like that!

8 Things I Wish I Did For My Valentine

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.

If You Screw Up, Fess Up!   Say “I’m sorry” and mean it!

In the classic 70′s romantic movie “Love Story” Jennifer Cavalieri said, “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.”

It’s a nice romantic notion to think if you really loved someone you would never say a hurtful word, always remember their favorite ___, text them back immediately, stop everything to take their phone call, always be certain to arrive when you said that you would, and never forget an item on the “pick it up on the way home” list.

Express your happiness for your partner and try to enjoy every moment you have.

How? Overlook the annoyances.

When Amy and I were going through our own pre-marital counseling our minister Ralph Gustafson had us read a couple of Gary Smalley books. I adapted the following from Gary Smalley’s If Only He Knew. It’s helped me help many people to love their loved ones better. Maybe it will help you too!

Negative: Nosy?
Positive: She may be very alert or sociable.

Negative: Touchy?
Positive: He may be very sensitive.