Happy Valentine's Day

As i sit here finishing up some work before I stop for the day, I cannot help but think about how life is always changing as time continues to tick by. We laugh during funny moments, we struggle with tough situations, we cry when we lose someone we love, and we celebrate when someone is born. We are always learning as we walk down this road of life. We are always on this journey towards who we are meant to be. Today is Valentine's day, a day set aside for us to demonstrate how much we care about our significant other. For others, today is the day to finally let that someone special in your life know about the feelings that you have for them, or maybe it is a day that you learn that you are the apple of someone else's eye. Whatever the case, today is a day centered around love. As i prepare to go off of the grid for the rest of the night, I cannot help but notice that I am caught up in a moment where these two collide. Valentine's Day and life. I cannot shake the fact that this day has been an intrical part of my life over the past few years. Four years ago on this day, Stacy and I were busy preparing for our wedding which was taking place 6 days later. We were so caught up in the process of beginning our future together and making plans for how we might spend the rest of our Valentine's days as husband and wife, that we really didn't celebrate the day itself. Stacy Rae Robson (Westfall) showed me that this day is not about chocolates and flowers, but is best celebrated by just merely being together. One thing that plan did not contain, was that just two years later I would be spending Valentine's Day sitting in my music room writing the words that I would speak at my grandfather's funeral a couple days later. Though I was writing about love, it wasn't the love typically associated with Valentine's day. That day my words were focused on the side of love reserved for very few people in this world, the love and admiration of a hero. Arden Ray Westfall was one of the most influential human beings in my life and losing him the day before Valentine's Day broke my heart, but it also allowed me the opportunity to reflect on life and love. This year brings a whole new meaning to this day. For the first time I have two Valentine's dates planned: One with my beautiful wife and one with my adorable daughter. Stacy and I will enjoy a home cooked dinner and we will watch a movie together later tonight. I will also sit with my princess for a few minutes and let her know how much I love her while I attempt to feed her rice cereal for the first time. She will not remember this night, but I know that I will cherish our first daddy / daughter Valentine's Day for the rest of my life. Arabella Rayne Westfall has stolen my heart, and has made Valentine's Day even more special for Stacy and I. As I finish typing this I just want to take a moment and say that no matter where you're at in your journey of life, whether this is a joyous day or a day of sadness, whether you're with the one you love or find yourself all alone, I pray that you are able to see the beauty that is YOUR life. I wish you all a Happy Valentine's Day.<3