i heart valentines day

I don't know why... but I love Valentine's Day. Well, all of February up to--and including--Valentine's Day. I love to browse the valentine aisles at any store I come across. I just can't get enough of all the cute hearts and cheesy gifts. I love that everything is pink or red or white. I love making heart shaped sugar cookies and frosting them perfectly pink. When this obsession began I don't know.

Growing up I always longed for a "special valentine." Every year I would write in my journal something to the effect of "No special valentine this year... maybe next year." And, of course, that never happened. But I have a few fond memories anyway.

Every year in our family we drew names and made a valentine for them. I don't know why my mom started doing this. The only thing I can think of is that it took us so long to make just one valentine that she decided one was enough. Who knows. My sister, Amy, drew my name almost every single year. Seriously. From the time I was around 9 (maybe before that?) through high school. She has always been a seamstress. So when she was 7 or 8 she made me a little red, heart-shaped pillow. Of course, she used all the batting on a pillow she had made for her school teacher and mine ended up stuffed with cotton balls--nice and lumpy. I still have that pillow! I'm sure that Amy thinks I'm ridiculous for keeping it. But how could I throw it away?

In high school, a bunch of friends invited the boys we hung out with on a treehouse breakfast date. We probably had just as much fun planning it as we did actually on the date. My freshman year of college some of my roommates and I decided to ask some boys from our ward on a date. We had dinner served to us by our friends and went ice skating. Super fun. Another year at college we serenaded our roommate and her fiance with "their song." In a resturaunt full of people... not embarassing at all. One of my favorite college valentines memories was "personalizing" our candy conversation hearts. Oh man were those hilarious! I just wish I could remember what we wrote. (Lori do you still have them? Yes! go here)

And now I finally have my "special valentine"--and never have to worry about finding one again. Rich always thinks of something wonderful for us. And because William and James are not taken yet, this year I have three valentines. I am one lucky girl.

But, you know, I've come to realize that, for me at least, Valentine's is more than having that "special" one. It's more than buying expensive flowers and jewelry. It's about showing people you love them. If I could I would send each of you a valentine's card... but, alas, I did not. So just imagine me giving you a great big hug and know that:

I love you!