Welcome to JOYFUL REFLECTIONS. Also welcome to MARCH!!!! My header picture this month is a photo I took of the pretty Crocus blooms in our yard... The Crocuses and Daffodils are the first signs of spring here in Tennessee. I am definitely ready for SPRING...

Friday, February 13, 2009

Love and Relationship


My sweet husband is taking me on a trip (today and tomorrow). It should be a fun 'getaway' ---and I'm so excited!!!! We will have a few meals at some of our favorite restaurants, spend the night in our favorite motel (the Holiday Inn Express), and, best of all, we'll get to see some new waterfalls. As you probably know by now (since I mention it frequently--ha ha), we have seen 295 different waterfalls since 2001, when we began our collection. We are hoping to get to 300 sometime this spring---so a few more new ones will be special for us. SO----to us, there's no better way to spend Valentine's Day than searching out new waterfalls.


When thinking about Valentine's Day and LOVE, I must admit that I didn't really know what REAL love and RELATIONSHIP was until I met George. Yes, I thought I was 'in love' with my first husband--but it was just different. We were more friends than lovers. We didn't communicate about our deepest feelings. Our relationship just faded away--and we didn't do a darn thing about it when we could have (maybe), before the love and respect was totally gone.


I think now, from what I've been through, that I have had enough experience to say that LOVE and RELATIONSHIPS take constant work. Here are the ingredients that I think every relationship needs: keeping God at the center of your lives, having similar values, respect and self-respect, appreciation, listening to each other (what do you want or need?), communicating constantly, taking quality time together, agreement with the rules when raising children, intimacy and a passion for each other (very important), friendship, trust, honesty, support, understanding, patience, equality (50/50 or 100/100), freedom (time apart/time together), and forgiveness. I'm sure you could add to this list.


Now can you see why building and growing relationships is HARD WORK. And most of us don't work at all of these ingredients especially as we work to make ends meet and as we raise our families. It may be easier if you are 'my' age --and some of the pressures of life are OFF. But then there are other pressures such as health issues, aging parents, etc. Therefore, we ALL need to keep these ingredients in front of us all through our lives. How is your relationship with your spouse and/or your loved ones??? There's no better time than Valentine's Day to do a check-list!!!!


We hope all of you have a wonderful Valentines Day and weekend. Be sure and tell those you love just exactly what they mean to you. Sometimes we don't say "I Love You" enough!!! As I said, we'll be away from the computer until Sunday. BUT--hopefully, when we return, we'll have lots of new photos to share with you.
Hugs and Happy Valentine's Day to YOU,

40 comments:

Kim said...

Wonderful advise on maintaining a loving relationship.

I hope you enjoy your trip and can't wait to see your photos!

Jayne said...

A great list Betsy! Have a wonderful time away and here's hoping you find all sort of new waterfalls. :c)

Cedar ... said...

Have a wonderful time Betsy and George!

CountryDreaming said...

Have a safe journey and enjoy the waterfalls!

Busy Bee Suz said...

Great advice Betsy...it does take work, I agree.
Have a wonderful time this weekend....happy valentines day to you both!

SmilingSally said...

You've given some words of wisdom today. Thanks for sharing.

Judy said...

Happy Valentine's Day to you both and enjoy a wonderful weekend together. I am looking forward to the new pictures!

ShabbyInTheCity said...

I think collecting waterfalls is VERY romantic ;)

ShabbyInTheCity said...

...and I want to be just like you if I grow up ...tee hee!

Susie said...

I couldn't agree with you more Betsy. Relationships are very hard and you do have to constantly work at them. I love your relationship advice/list. All of it is so very true.

I hope you and George have a wonderful weekend. I look forward to seeing the photos.

Janie said...

Hope you have fun with your Valentine. No doubt you will! You'll have a chance to try out George's camera some more, and I'll look forward to viewing more lovely waterfalls.

Anonymous said...

Have a wonderful trip Betsy!

Anonymous said...

I'm so happy for you! All the best to you both! You are absolutely right on your relationship advice and I totally agree with you. I look forward to seeing your photos!

Shelley said...

I know you & George will have a wonderful time and I am looking forward to your photos. Loved all the advice you posted and agreed w/ every point!

Jen said...

Most excellent Betsy!!!
♥ Happy Valentine's Day ♥ to you and George!

Cicero Sings said...

Happy Valentine's Betsy and George! I know YOU two will enjoy it to the nth! Happy Waterfalling!

Good Advice.

Tina said...

Happy Valentines Day and do hope you have a safe and wonderful trip..# 300??? how nice!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the great advice. I hope you and George have a wonderful trip.

Natalie said...

I hope you have a wonderful time! I am hoping to take a small getaway with Jeff maybe next weekend.

Aleta said...

Betsy - Have a great time, you two lovebirds! It is a beautiful thing to have such a close relationship. I agree with you on your checklist about what makes a relationship work. And I agree that you have to work at a relationship. I knew we were in trouble when my EX-husband said to me once, 'I don't want to have to WORK at a relationship." And by golly, he didn't! Those are by-gone days and now love couldn't be better!
Looking forward to your new pics!

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Betsy: Thanks for sharing your Valetine wish and I wish a great time for you.

Ruth's Photo Blog said...

Fantastic advise,something we too often take forgranted.
Have fun and looking forward to new pictures.
Blessings,Ruth

Naturegirl said...

Betsy wishing you and your love a liftime of happiness!
I have had the same partener for 41 yrs. and our formula very simple:
A)respect for one another
B)communication
c)romance
has worked for us! Happy Sweetheart Day!

Sunny said...

That sounds lovely, Betsy! Wishing you and your hubby a safe and fun, wonderful loving Happy Valentine's Weekend! ~Judy

dot said...

Betsy, I hope ya'll have a wonderful trip. I can't imagine ever finding that many waterfalls but I'm sure ya'll will meet your goal

Wendy said...

Happy Valentine's Day. Hope you and hubby have a wonderful weekend.

Anonymous said...

Wishing you both the best Valentine's Day ever!!!

Dorothy said...

Oh Betsy! You hit the nail on the head! You articulated it just right! I think in many ways our new relationships are so much alike. Check out my post for Feb. 14th. Hope y'all have a wonderful time on your trip looking for the waterfalls. And Happy Valentine's Day! ♥ ♥ ♥

Connie said...

Have a wonderful time on your trip, Betsy! I hope you and George have a wonderful Valentine's Day. :)

Grammy said...

Have a wonderful trip. That is a great collection "Waterfalls" I never even thought of some thing like that.

Mary Isabella and Kiley too! said...

Happy Valentine's Day my dear friend. I know yours will be a beautiful one and you two w make another wonderful memory...m..

Raymonty said...

Happy Valentine Day to you and your loved ones; may your heart find love and serenity.

NCmountainwoman said...

Have a wonderful weekend.

Betty said...

I hope you have a very nice trip, Betsy, and that you take lots of photos to show us.

Happy Valentine's Day to you both.

Diane said...

Dear Betsy, Hope your love continues to flourish for the rest of your lives.

Anonymous said...

Happy Happy Happy Valentine's Day w/ your SWEETIE! Here's to finding more Waterfalls!!!

Anonymous said...

I hope you & George have a wonderful time. Be safe & have loads of pix to show us.
Happy Valentines Day.

Unknown said...

Whoa ... that's a long list, and sounds complicated. But as you've found, when all the ingredients are there, it's simple as pie.

Lori said...

Sorry I haven't been around much lately...lots going on in my world.

You and George are such a lovely inspiration, Betsy. I hope that you have a wonderful Valentine's getaway together!

Blessings,
Lori

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Thanks to all who stopped by and made comments!!! We are home and I'll post a blog tomorrow. Had a wonderful two days and saw SIX new waterfalls. Our total is now 301.... Yeah Rah!!!!!

I also got another surprise. I saw my first Cedar Waxwing... Talk about excitement!!!!!

Hope all of you had a great day, and are having a wonderful weekend.
Hugs,
Betsy