Vintage Valentine Keepsake

Every holiday my mom brings out her decor she has accumulated from past years and usually there will be something I have never seen or haven't seen for years. This Valentine card that she brought out with her heart chocolates and chocolate kisses (yum), was one item I had never seen. Here is a card received by my grandfather from TWO admirers in a grade school class (yeah, I'm not surprised, he was a pretty cool guy). It is small and delicate and beautiful. I love these type of treasures from the past.















I love this style of card too with the sweet poetry rhymes that leave warm fuzzy feelings in a person. I've noticed many of these type of cards were not signed inside. I wonder if that was how they did things back then.

Do you remember giving and receiving Valentines in grade school? Decorating coffee cans or shoe boxes in pink and red, with your name on it in numerous places so that people would know for sure that that was your Valentine mail box.

While admiring my grandfather's card, I reminisced with family members of our childhood memories of the holiday. I never realized how much I liked this holiday or used to like this holiday, until now. Love is cool enough to honor a day for it, right?

Tomorrow, I think I will have the girls start making their Valentines they were supposed to send out last year. Last year I must have been lacking in love for this upcoming holiday. Better late then never right? Again, I might add, don't you just love my grandfather's Valentine. I had to put up a Valentine favorite this year in keeping tradition with last year. I think I might try to find some vintage Valentine cards myself. Let me know if you know where to find any.

Grandpa's Casket

I thought that my grandpa's casket and flowers were beautiful. The flowers were specially picked out. They were gladiolas, roses, daisy's, snapdragons, and mums. All flowers that he use to grow in his garden.

Grandpa's Funeral

My grandfather Mckay's funeral was beautiful. Each child of his was able to share a little about him being a father, husband, worker, and community supporter. It's amazing what you can learn about someone you thought you really knew about your whole life at their funeral. I can see why I have such an amazing mother because of the influential father she had. I'll be posting more about the funeral because it was so nice and was a wonderful way to start off the holidays reminiscing with family.

Tribute to a Great Man

McKay Christensen

May 16, 1911-

November 09, 2007

McKay and Josephine

My Parents wedding (Grandpa Christensen on right end)

My Grandfather passed away this evening. It has been a bittersweet time since. We have felt for the past year or so that it was time for him to go back home to his beloved wife.

He will be sorely missed leaving behind six living children, thirty nine grandchildren, and 60+ great grandchildren.

He is one who lived his life to the fullest.

Just a few interesting things about him.

• Grandpa and his siblings started up a business when he graduated from high school.


• With good business sense it survived the Great Depression.


• He married an amazing return missionary.


• He was an amazing master gardener. We loved Grandpa's produce from his garden. He also won in some local flower growing shows.


• He was an investment guru and made well for himself and his family in the stock market.

He had a deep and abiding love for my grandmother and that is why this is a sweet moment for me and my family. He returns home to a loving wife, son, parents, and thousands of people who he helped fulfill their temple ordinances.

I wanted to share a part of a love letter to my grandpa from my grandma:

Both happiness and sadness bring that overwhelming appreciation and affection for our companion. Most of life is made up of neither disaster nor unusual celebrating, but of routine, calm, everyday events in which we participate and more or less take each other for granted. And during these times I enjoy the quiet serene love that actually surpasses the big events that draw so deeply on emotions. Our love is not as effervescent nor on display, but it runs deep and solid. I know you are there, loving me, caring for me in your quiet way...and regardless of inattention due to outside attraction we both know we are loved and are close to each other...Let us go on together hand in hand as we walk this earthly life, on into eternity, for I want always to be your eternal sweetheart: Your darling. Josephine

With a heavy heart and tears in my eyes, farewell Grandpa. I will miss you for this time on earth and look forward to a happy reunion on into eternity. I love you.

Love your granddaughter,

Marleen

My Parents wedding (Grandpa on the right end)