Heartstrings

If you know me well, you know that Valentine's Day is my favorite day of the year. I adore hearts, all things red and love. What's not to like... I mean love? My heart's especially full this year. My husband and I were married on Valentine's Day. For us, this usually means really celebrating a lot in one day. This year's no different, but we've got a head start on our day. It's suddenly dawned on me that this day isn't just about us anymore. I mean it still is, but it's expanded in a way I never thought it would. I've always been about perfect pictures and I didn't see this everyday family portrait coming.

 

 So far this month has been filled with school, sickness, work demands and  a lot more ... But, it's still our love month! I'm grateful for weekends (even if we spent an entire Saturday and Sunday sick in bed). I can't remember ever being sick at the same time. Who has time for that when you're raising kids? Someone has to always pretend they're well if nobody else is! It was sort of novel to lay around in pajamas all weekend together, comparing aches, pains and temperatures. Aside from feeling lousy, it was kind of fun. I know, I must be losing it.

 

Last weekend we spent an entire Saturday together gathering things for a Valentine's Day love package for our daughter in NYC. My husband has always had two Valentines since the day Megan was born. He loves his other girl and I love that. I usually do creative stuff for Meg, but this year we joined forces. We had such a great day together. It was ordinary stuff like picking out Godiva truffles, searching for the perfect Hallmark cards, with pit stops to places like Victoria's Secret and Free People. My husband didn't seem to mind. She really is the crowning jewel of our love, making it only natural for us to want to make sure she knows she's loved and remembered on this day of days (our day). She'll have a Valentine of her own soon enough. She let us know this morning her package had arrived in the nick of time. Whew... we were sweating it! We barely made it to the post office on time before it closed. Next year we'll start earlier.

 

On Monday night I said, "We should make a Valentine's date with Kali and Ryder this week!" As much as I love those little Grand babies of mine, I couldn't believe those words flew out of my mouth! My husband said, "On our Anniversary?" I think I blew him away. The fourteenth of February has always been sacred to me, a couples only day of obligation. I laughed out loud, "Well, maybe not on Valentine's Day. How about this week though?" We picked out love related children's books, Valentine cards and assorted V-Day candy for them on Saturday, so we were ready! We agreed a date would be fun, but maybe before Valentine's Day. So we invited the littles and their parents to dinner last night.  And guess what those babies brought with them?... handmade Valentines for Papa and Grand Ma-Ma. It was a LOVE FEST! 

 

I am not at all sure anything else that is planned for tomorrow is more important or better than anything I just listed. WOW... I never saw that one coming. I have to say, I always thought I would identify Valentine's Day with candlelight dinners, long stemmed red roses, lingerie, and fancy hotels. I still really like those things. I'm not old yet. But, I love our life together- just life. And if I had to be sick this month, I'm glad it was with him. And if I had to raise that blended family of ours all over again, he's the one I'd want to do it with.  Even if I dreamed up a perfect daughter, she couldn't have possibly been as amazing as the one I had with him. They say a picture is worth a thousand words... But, I'll add just three. I love them (all of them and those not pictured). Happy Valentine's Day!