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Our Love Is ... guest post today is from Kate who blogs over at http://www.lifeloveandlivingwithboys.wordpress.com

Pooh Bear will be two years old in a few months and I will always remember the day, 2nd September, that I found out I was pregnant for the second time in less than two years. Spud was just one and I'd been feeling a bit peaky so having my suspicions, I spoke to Scatty Dad at work and he said to take a test. I was pretty sure what the outcome would be so I was to 'surprise' him with the results when he returned home that evening.

Teatime came and there was no sign or Scatty Dad.  He usually phoned at least once throughout the day and he'd not replied to my texts so I was getting a little worried.  He used to phone or text when he was leaving work as he has a 45 minute commute and it means I can sound the alarm should anything happen to him on the way home. An hour after he was due to return home, and not having heard from him for eight hours, I was worried.  He wasn't answering his phone. In his line of work, it's not uncommon for him to be kept late now and again but he always rings me.  I was very worried. I rang his work and after half an hour or so, they were able to confirm he was indeed still at work and not to worry "he isn't lying in a ditch".  Phew! Finally, at 10pm, he was able to contact me and say he would be home in the morning. By this time, I'd completely forgotten about the pregnancy test and the little bean which was probably doing somersaults with all the stress I was feeling.

After a good night's sleep, Scatty Dad finally walked through the door.  I think I was getting dressed when he noticed the pregnancy test I'd left on the banister.  It was an all singing, all dancing digital one he'd bought when we got pregnant with Spud when he decided the cheapo one I bought wasn't good enough.  Unfortunately, unlike the cheapo ones, the result on the digital one had disappeared! I gave him the result and without saying anything, he gave me a massive hug and a kiss. It was exactly what I needed after the stress of the day before and as he isn't one to show his emotions (unless Man U are on TV) I have never felt so loved by him before or since. 

It is a lovely memory which will stick with me forever (and quite possibly you too now ;) )  

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Today's Love Is ... post is a little different. It is about protecting the ones you love and the lengths you will go to.

Love is ensuring the safety of those we love the most but what if those dangers sit on our laptops, tablets and smart phones? Social media is amazing and I am the first to advocate that it is a brilliant tool for promoting and sharing information but what about the information that is private? I am talking about things that are personal and once upon a time, not that long ago, we would have been simply horrified at the thought of strangers being able to look at photos of our homes, friends and most importantly, our children.

It seems almost obligatory to upload photos of a night out, a holiday or a baby scan but what if it were not only your friends that were looking?

Privacy settings are obviously a personal choice but checking into the airport as you jet off for your holiday, in my mind, just tells everyone that your house is empty for a week or so. How many of us know every single person on our friends list? How many of those people have you met in person and ultimately, how many of them do you really trust?

I know I am being overly cautious but I also know that people's desperation can lead them to do obscure things to provide for their own loved ones.

So in my book Love is .... not checking in with Facebook and keeping my family safe.

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Today's Love Is post is mine and is a very personal one.

Once upon a time when I was young and blinded by love, I remember doing everything I could to emulate the "perfect relationship" that we were perceived to have. I also remember the very moment I was emotionally crushed by being told I was only 80% perfect. It was obviously not so perfect in paradise and the beginning of the end.

80% perfect, that's what I was to the one person I thought loved me completely. Now I am not foolish enough to think I am perfect, I have enough quirks and habits to know this is not true but it still hurt.

Love is supposed to be unconditional.

Love is knowing that you may leave the top off the toothpaste, but they love you for it anyway.

Love is about trusting someone explicitly with your secrets and your heart.

Love is giving birth to new life.

Love is sharing your hopes and dreams.

Love is forgiveness.

 

My gorgeous man tells me now that Love isn't about being perfect, but quite simply that I am perfect for him.

 

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This school is on the edge of a slum in Accra.  A slum that is home to 75,000 people.   All of whom that we saw waved, high fived us, and wanted to show us their homes.   The school has 250 pupils ranging from 2 to 16 and was started 10 years ago.

 

For  the past 25 years the money raised through Red Nose Day has been changing the  lives of the poorest and most disadvantaged people in the UK and Africa. Let’s  Keep Up the Good Work. Find out how atrednoseday.com

For other digital postcards  please do check out the linky on www.teamhonk.org