The Orchid Journal

(Photo by author) Red nail polish applied to quirky toes reddish lipstick on full, ready lips green eyes quietly observe red decorations; poinsettas, red candles lining a long aisle, red ribbons tied around green pine boughs. Reddest of all are cheeks aflame and the blood pumping softly through a ready red heart, as green eyes rest upon the warm red face of the handsomest man in the world.

My uncle let me borrow a book from my late grandmother's library called, "A Medieval Home Companion: Housekeeping in the Fourteenth Century" (translated and edited by Tania Baynard). The inside cover flap begins like this, "Around the year 1393 an elderly citizen of Paris married a girl of fifteen and presented her with a book of moral and domestic instruction that he had written to guide her." In the editor's Introduction, we learn that the author's name is unknown, but that he was most likely between 50 and 60 years old. In the author's prologue, he (the husband of the 15 year old) begins sweetly, "Dear sister, because you are fifteen years old, you beseeched me, the week we were married, to be tolerant of your youth and inexperience until you had seen and learned more, and you promised to apply yourself diligently to instruction and to devote all your attention and industry to keeping my peace and love." Throughout the book, ...

Orson, the polar bear, scampers happily in the snow on Monday morning. At noon, Orson visits Sunshine Ministries, the oldest homeless shelter/program in St. Louis. He watches the screen to be ready to buzz in visitors to the office. He tries to answer the phone, but it is slightly too heavy. Instead, Orson helps the receptionist by putting calls on hold. He is very proud of himself. What a busy day! Photos by Laelia Watt

from "What Did You Expect?? Redeeming the Realities of Marriage" by Paul Tripp "...true love grows out of the nutrient soil of gratitude." "The unity of marriage is not the result of absence of misunderstanding, but rather the unity of a marriage is formed as you work through inevitable misunderstandings with patience, kindness and grace." "...the character of a marriage is established through 10,000 little moments." "Trust is being so convinced that you can rely on the integrity, strength, character and faithfulness of another that you are willing to place yourself in his or her care." "...you will entrust yourself to the person who loves you enough to trouble his life with what troubles you." "Humble openness, coupled with the commitment to admit to and confess wrongs is an essential ingredient to the bond of trust." "Love is willing self-sacrifice for the good of another that does not require reciprocation or...