Monday, February 4, 2008

"My Most Memorable Valentine's Day Ever."




It was Valentine’s Day 2004, a day I will never forget!

During a usual busy day at work, my husband Rick slipped out on his lunch hour to bless me with a really special Valentine’s gift. The norm for us is flowers, some candy, and maybe a romantic dinner. This year Rick wanted to surprise me with an extra special present.

He knew jewelry would really catch me off gaurd so off to the jewelry store he went to purchase a ring he had been looking at and thinking about for days.

He was so excited to get to walk through the door when he got home and shock me with this gorgeous blue sapphire and diamond ring. He had it wrapped, and tied a “I Love You” balloon to the box and put it with a card in a beautiful gift bag. Oh, it was just perfect, and he was so proud of his gift to show me how much I was loved.

At that time Rick had to commute to and from work across the 25 mile Causeway bridge over Lake Pontchartrain. He was thinking, “This is going to be Susan’s big surprise” as he drove across that long bridge over the lake.

A few miles before he reached the end, he leaned on the armrest and accidentally hit the passenger side window button and the window went down. Before he could do anything, before his very eyes, he saw the wind catch the balloon and pull it right out of the window with the ring box still attached!




OH MY, can you imagine how he felt at that moment? In the rearview mirror he saw the helium balloon flying in the air with cars and trucks speeding along and only deep water over the rails.


It wasn’t long before Rick pulled up and walked slowly to the door. When he first walked in I could see something was wrong, really wrong. He quietly asked me to come in the back to our room; he had something to tell me. He sat down, and handed me an empty gift bag, with a Valentine’s card in it, and then told me the whole story.

I felt horrible, and so touched all at the same time. Horrible, that he lost this beautiful ring, and so touched by all the love that went behind getting me such a special gift. He was sure there was no chance the ring would ever be found. He said some poor fisherman would see this balloon floating in the lake and pull it up only to find a diamond ring attached to it. Talk about the catch of the day!

After a few minutes of consoling him, I told him just go back on the bridge and try and see if by some chance it didn’t go over the rail or get rolled over. Rick looked at me as if I had lost my mind! It was now night, it was windy, and the chances of finding a small ring box on that Causeway were less than zero. I must add here that there are no lights or emergency lanes on the bridge, and you are not even allowed to stop.


My nephew was over at the time and quickly agreed to take the ride with Rick back on the bridge. So still in a daze we said a quick prayer, and they headed out to accomplish what we all really knew was the impossible.

As they drove along on the southbound span, trying to look across at the Northbound span, my nephew said he though he saw something reflecting in the headlights on the other side. They went another mile to the next turnaround and started heading back on the other side. As they drove along, there was the balloon flapping in the wind against the guardrail. The little ring box got lodged in a drain hole on side of the bridge. When they got close to it another miracle occurred, no cars were coming behind them. My nephew hopped out of the car, grabbed the balloon and the ring still attached, and we all became believers in miracles that day. Whenever I wear that ring, I know it was not only a gift from Rick; it was a gift from God.



Yes, I will never forget my Valentine Miracle. Do you know that God is still working miracles today? I don’t ask why some prayers are answered, and some are not, I just know with God nothing is impossible or too difficult. Happy Valentine's Day Rick, I love you more each day!

If you want to read somemore awesome stories, you can visit Marriage Monday.

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

wow! what a wonderful memory you'll have to share with your family. that is truly amazing.

Lelia Chealey said...

OH my goodness!! I got bumps everywhere when I read that & tears in my eyes!! I LOVE how God works...too amazing!
Thanks for sharing that Susan!
Love ya,
Lelia
Are you going to go to She Speaks in June? I read Karla's entry-awesome & unfortunately I can relate to her topic. Healed, but much regret.

Jan Parrish said...

Wow. A great gift and a miracle all in the same day. That certainly is a VD to remember!

Heather said...

Oh Susan That is absolutely wonderful. It's a magical story of love - and like you said, not just human love but divine.

Unknown said...

Oh Susan,

Just and outstanding story!!!!!!!!

I want to hug both of you and your nephew.

I will never forget this wonderful miracle.

Connie Marie said...

What a story to go with your Valentine's Day ring. I can hear---- grandchildren telling that story for years to come!

Heather said...

BEautiful!

God's girl said...

I LOVED this story! Thanks so much for sharing!
Blessings,
Angela

Tami said...

Wow. Awesome story. And what sweet men in your life to go out looking, hoping against all hope. Praise God!

Susannah said...

This takes the cake! You're an incredible story teller, Susan. Do you still have that sapphire and diamond ring? Bless your husband, and praise God for His miracle. :~D

A quick reminder to vote for next month's topic, if you haven't already.

Thanks for joining us for Marriage Monday today.

Homemanager said...

Glory to God! He knows how to bless us like no one else does. :-)
Thank you for sharing such a precious story.
Blessings,
Karen

MochaPrincess said...

I can't say how many tears I have in my eyes. That is the most precious story I have read. God bless. Thanks for stopping by my blog.

Anonymous said...

Reading your "most memorable and quite romantic" Valentine Day story was also a promised made & kept. Telling it in sequence was torture too - kinda wanted to skip to the end because the middle was so unnerving - especially because Rick put so much love and thought into the gesture. However, in between my efforts at speed reading (cause I just KNEW it had to be a happily ever ongoing story) I thought about something that a little guy in the neuroblastoma world said "Believe in the Unbelieveable"....I think the Amato's live by Harrison's profound words. Hope this Valentines Day 2008 is special in a much less dramatic way for all the Amato's...XXOO-randy

Amy S. said...

Now that is some story Susan! What an awesome ending. All of you must have been thrilled at the time.
Thanks for sharing the story with us.

Love and Hugs...

Kenzie said...

Susan-

What a beautiful story! One that will surely be passed down for generations in your family!

Thank you so much for your comment on our blog... for your prayers for our family and for the sweet words about our little Maddox. He is surely enjoying his time with so many other little friends at the feet of Jesus.

I was planning to email you to say not to worry, that I will look for that book. And as I started reading your blog, all I could hear was a friend telling me not to stop other peoples blessings... Sooo... I have to say that I would be honored to receive the book you mentioned from Nancy Guthrie. I have had several other people tell me it is wonderful and others that have offered to send it... I don't know why but you captured me. THANK YOU.

If you would send me an email at kenzie.stanfield@yahoo.com, I will send you my address.

Thank you for your blessings and serving as the hands of Christ for me right now.

In Him,
Kenzie

~Those beautiful little girls... are they your granddaughters you mention? My sister's name is Karli, spelled just the same.

Kenzie said...

PS~ I LOVE that the verse at the top of your blog is the one we claimed for Maddox: Isaiah 43:1... amazing!

NYC said...

Ok, that is just too cool!

Lelia Chealey said...

Susan~
Thank you for sweet comment about my sister in law's death. I read it to my husband and he was very touched. He started to read my post and stopped in the 2nd paragraph. He said he'd read it later. I told him he didn't have to. Poor thing, he just misses her so much. His mom died from cancer when he was 5 & she was around the same age as Ment so that was strange. Anyway, Ment was a teenager & stepped up to the plate & was mom to Gene & his brother. Their Dad never re-married and she did everything that a mom would do. Even when he came to Nebraska to play football, she'd send "pizza money". :) Anyway, thanks so much for taking to read it & comment.
You're so sweet.
Love,
Lelia

Mary said...

That is a GREAT story! Thanks for sharing! And thanks for stopping by my place. You are a blessing girl.
Have a great day.

Faithful Froggers said...

WOW! Susan what a very special story. So romantic . . . so miraculous! Thanks so much for sharing. God is good - all the time!

Hope you are having a wonderful week!
Love & FROG,
Heather

Mary said...

Susan,

What an inspirational post. I'm so glad that God wanted you to have that ring. Miracles happen everyday. We just need to have faith.

Blessings,
Mary

Amy said...

Gosh that was amazing! God is SO cool! I love the music you have playing here btw :-)

Speaking from the Heart said...

Susan,

I agree with you, your story is the most memoriable Valentine's Day ever. Thank you for sharing.