We usually don't make too big a deal of Valentine's Day around here.  I always get a little something for the girls and Hubby and I will go on a date, but nothing too elaborate.  Here's a couple of things we got for the girls this year.  We saw these on a shopping trip at Target and they fell in love.  I went back later and picked them up to surprise them: 

I put the mugs on top of the plates, filled them with chocolate and a Starbucks gift card and viola!  So cute!

Here's what I'm going to go back and pick up for me on clearance (if they have any left): 

I love their Valentine's Day stuff this year: 

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I'm going to make these for dinner tonight.  We LOVE breakfast for dinner! 

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My mom doesn't know if yet, but I'm going to send the girls to her house on Saturday night so Hubby and I can go see this movie: 

It seems like a great movie for guys and girls... a little romance with a bit of tough guy stuff mixed in.  

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Just in case you are feeling unloved today, remember that there is One who loves you with an everlasting love: 

"For the Lord your God is living among you.  He is a mighty savior.  He will take delight in you with gladness.  With His love, He will calm all your fears.  He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”  Zephaniah 3:17

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What are you and your sweetie doing this year?  

My Valentine's Gift

I shared with you the other day that my vacuum broke and joked about getting a vacuum for Valentine's Day.  I can tell you, we did not. Instead, we went out to the movies, dinner, and stopped by Anthropologie to look around.  I almost bought this cup because I have a thing for coffee and tea cups and I love the color: 

It's $10 and comes in 4 different colors. Love it!

It was a much needed date and so much fun!  My husband is a great guy.  He's so much fun to be with and makes me laugh like no one else. I'm blessed. 

But, that's not why I'm writing.  I just wanted to show you what Hubby got for me.  I forgot that I told him about this necklace I wanted.  I did tell him a while ago, after all.  So, I was very surprised when I received it. Here's what it looks like:  

I LOVE this necklace!  It's from The Rusted Chain.  

I've ordered several things from this shop, including this necklace: 

I've ordered gifts for friends and family from this shop and will continue to do so.  All of the jewelry that I wear has to have a purpose.  I think I only have one necklace that I have just because it matches a shirt I own. Everything else has a story or a sentimental meaning to it.  These necklaces make a statement and share my faith.  Love 'em!

So, I just felt the need to tell you that I did not get a vacuum for Valentine's Day (oh, darn) and to invite you over if you want to come and vacuum my house.  

What did you do for Valentine's Day?  Did you get a gift?  

Blessings,

Heather 

LoVe

Happy Valentine's Day!  Some of you may not celebrate Valentine's Day, thinking it's just a Hallmark Holiday.  I felt that way for a while.  But now, in the midst of marriage and motherhood, I am grateful that there is a "holiday" that forces me to slow down and intentionally show love.  I said to my husband yesterday that we need to show love for one another more throughout the year.  We get so busy that our marriage gets put on the back burner.  We know our spouses will be there, so we'll just nurture that relationship when we have time and energy.  Then, before you know it, so much time has passed that you don't even know how to relate to one another as husband and wife.  

So, in order to be more intentional with showing love for my husband, I'm going to start doing things for him throughout the week.  My husband is an easy man to please, that's what makes it so much worse that I haven't been doing the little things for him.  He's so laid back that I think I let things go even more because of that.  He doesn't really say much unless something's gotten way out of hand (ie. he's on the verge of recycling underwear because the laundry isn't done.  I wish I were joking here.  Sad.)  Here are a few of the things I'm going to do for him: 

• Pack his lunch
• Put his clothes away after I do laundry (sometimes it sits in the basket for a week)
• Surprise him with a Starbuck's coffee that I've picked up on the way home from an outing
• Give him a foot rub (ick.. not my favorite, but he LOVES it)
• Offer to get him something to drink or eat if I'm in the kitchen and he's not

These are simple things.  Most of them are things I should already be doing.  The first thing I'm going to do though, before any of the things listed above, is pray.  God created us.  He knows what we need.  I'm going to ask God to show me what my husband needs. 

I was reminded of this Bible verse this morning: 

"LOVE is patient, LOVE is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. LOVE does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  LOVE never fails."    

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 

I think it would be a good idea to pick this verse apart and examine how we're doing with each key phrase.  This is always a hard task.  Not many people I know like self-reflection.  But, if we want to honor God with our marriages and relationships, we need to be willing to look at it all.  I started getting hives just underlining the words.  I know I fall short in many of these areas but, I know that I can accomplish these things through God's grace.  

I love this verse because it speaks about the way we love, but it's also about how God loves us.  Amazing.  

How will you be celebrating Valentine's Day?  How do you intentionally show love to your spouse?  

Blessings and LOVE, 

Heather