About the Author

Robin is the author of For All Who Wander, her relatable memoir about wrestling with doubt that reads much like a conversation with a friend. She's as Southern as sugar-shocked tea, married to her college sweetheart, and has three children. An empty nester with a full life, she's determined to...

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
& you will too!
Find more at DaySpring.com
(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
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  1. Robin,
    Oh how I remember those days in elementary school…the excitement and creativity that went into making our Valentine boxes. Then came the distribution ritual followed by the giddy delving into our own box of goodies. Even at an early age, the desire to be loved and noticed is there. I don’t care for the mandate holiday either, but instead choose to focus on God’s love for us and love within our family. I adore your tradition of the Valentine tea (I have also learned to use my china often vs. letting it collect dust in the china cabinet). What a lovely tradition your MIL started through you. I pray that it will morph and continue in your family. Thank you for your encouragement to be a woman of valor. That is truly God’s will for us.
    Blessings,
    Bev xx

    • Ah…Bev, it sounds like you get me from the inside out :). Just thinkin’ about my school days brought such a sweet pile of memories.

      My in-laws are here and my FIL wept when I read him my post :). I’ve yet to share it with my MIL, saving for Tea Time this afternoon. I cannot wait!!

      xo

  2. Robin, As always your post has resonated with my heart and my spirit. Your story fills my soul with an excitement and inspires me to find a way to create traditions with family and friends and especially with my precious granddaughter who arrived this past Christmas! Valentine’s Day has been about loving ALL in my life not just my sweetheart of 33 years. Praying for you this day as your tradition takes a new shape! I’m certain it will be gloriously filled with a preciousness of Christ living in you.
    Thank you, sweet sister, for the gifts you share!

    Melanie

    • Melanie,

      You DO know that you have the gift of encouragement, right? THAT is no small thing, friend. Thank you for sharing that with me today :).

      I was up early to see my son off on a ski trip this morning, and my in-loves and I have already had the sweetest visit. Today the sun is shining, the skies are blue and my heart is already full. I pray these things for you, whether literally or figuratively :).

  3. Just this week I was blessed to host a luncheon of love, a gift to my sweet momma. She is taking chemo, for breast cancer that has moved to her bones. And her friends, facing their own aging issues, came in wheelchairs and on walkers, brought by caregivers. Their loving and supportive conversations have only been by phone for over 2 years, their time of being physically together cut short by so many things. With her best china, beautiful flowers, and not one but 2 “surcies” in place for everyone … my Mom hosted those who have walked her through the trials and joys of her married life. I was honored to be the hands that served them. And pray, with all my heart, that I can age with women of equal strength and love for me.

    • Jamie, what a blessing you are to your Mum. And what a treasure this must have been to all present. May God bless you for being His hands and His feet.

    • Anna,
      What a sweet blessing it must have been! You are a treasured daughter to your mother. May God richly bless you for your sweet acts of kindness!
      Prayers for you mother. May God give you all the strength you need to endure these trials!
      Blessings 🙂

    • Oh…Jamie…THIS is pure and undefiled religion. THIS is love and blessing and honor!

      I lost my own mother to cancer when I was nine, so I have a tender spot when I hear those two words together. Your mother sounds amazing, and YOU sound like you’ve been taught beautifully by a woman who has lived her life well! What a precious testimony to her and you and God’s goodness and friendship and–I could go on and on! I’m praying over you and her coming days, expectant for how God will work in and through you.

      {{hugs}}

  4. Robin, I thought you were going to write it was your last because your MIL had died! So glad they are with you today, that you will still do something. Thank you for the link to Eshet Chayil, too.
    Our tradition is a Sunday night chocolate fondue to which all are invited: singles, families, couples.
    My husband comes from a pretty strong male oriented family and we were in grad school for way too long, so it took a while and surviving a wildfire for me to say to myself, “Use the pretty things, don’t just store them in case they would break. By rights they’re on their second life already, having not got lost in the fire.” It’s freeing, and the beauty restores something in our hearts, yes?
    Thank you.

    • You know what, Beth? I noticed in one place I had written “My MIL WAS (not “is”); I don’t know why I would have written it like that (a typo???); anyway, it sounded like she might have died, so you aren’t crazy (I fixed it 😉 ).

      Your Sunday night tradition is delicious–both in its significance and I’m sure its tastiness :). FUN for everyone, yes?

      Beauty is found in simple things…and it is blessing to all. xo

  5. What a beautiful tribute to your MIL and to the love of Christ within her. Thank you for sharing this.

  6. first off Robin–that was a beautiful card your sweet boyfriend made for you. After reading that how can one not fall absolutely in love with him?! 🙂
    Great tribute to your MIL. It is true that parents, relatives and older people can teach us things. We need to learn to use our good stuff and not save it for “some day” as some day might not come. We also need to have values, traditions and pass those along to our children.
    I want to be thought of as a Proverbs 31 woman. A woman of integrity, who works hard & diligently. One who is noble of character and is blessed by her husband and children.

    • Beth,

      Ha! My husband is a lot of things but not typically referred to as “sweet” (it’s a running joke, not an insult). BUT, yes, that card WAS sweet and to this day, I LOVE it big!

      Yes, to be known not as a superwoman but as a Godly woman….that is lofty ambition :).

  7. Robin, Grace and I always looked forward to Rachel’s teas! Thank you for sharing the origins of this tradition. Happy Valentines Day and don’t forget to bake sourdough bread. I bet your kids remember that aroma of home.

    • Louise!!! Yes!!! Little Grace (who I guess is as big as little Rachel now…). I LOVE that you happened to see this post :).

      I’ve only recently begun making sourdough bread but I DID bake it over the weekend! And now that I’m not strictly adhering to WHOLE30 I can eat a little. YUM–wish I could share with YOU!

      • It would remind us of sweet Anne Sanford. I gave Shelton my recipe in Anne’s handwriting. He could not wait to give it to Connie. Your house always smelled so good.

  8. “…she simply lived her own life before me.”

    Such encouragement to live with such intentional goodness, such planned love!

    What a beautiful tradition and example of passing on what matters.

    I adore this. And you!

    XOXO

  9. Thank you, Robin, for sharing about your exemplary MIL. She is an inspiration for us to live our faith-enhanced lives before the young women around us. Too often we’re not even aware that passing comments and small actions can leave a memorable impact.