...Today is Valentine's Day...

...that is right, the day when roses are cherished, chocolates eaten and everything becomes a wonderful shade of pink (or red).

I have never been a big fan of Valentine's Day, sure I am addicted to the candy hearts (yes I can and will eat a whole bag in one sitting) and yes I do love the beautiful flowers and giant balloons that hover over me at the grocery store...but I have really stopped putting much feeling into Valentine's day. To me...dare I say, it is a Hallmark Holiday.

I think this is because when I was a young girl back in 7th grade I secretly hoped that I would be delivered a rose from my secret admirer. I would watch as the Class president would come in with a bucket of newly blooming roses (all previously purchased by the "secret admirer" the week before) and a list of people who were to receive them. I tried to not look to hopeful as I watched him read and call out the names of those that would receive this mark of love. I would watch as the people (both girls and boys) who got them would glow with the knowledge that somewhere floating around the school was someone who "loved" them. It didn't happen for me in 7th grade, or 8th, in fact the one time it did happen I convinced my good friend to send me one and I to her. ...oh the things we do in High School.

Aside from the sick hope of getting a rose delivered to me in High School, what I remember most about Valentine's Day is the over-sized red and pink mug full of sweets and gifts with a card attached from my Dad. Every year that I can remember I would come down to breakfast and there my Valentine's day Gift would sit...waiting for me with open arms...I would not go gift-less today :) At the time of my love filled adolescence I didn't give the mug (although appreciated) much thought. It was the cheap roses and romantic stories that meant more to me.

However, when I became a parent the mug and everything it stood for took on a whole new meaning. It was about love...an endless love that someone (even though it was my dad) went out of his way to make me and my sister feel special. Even if I didn't know it at the time I carried that around with me throughout my rose-less High School days. Someone (even Dad) thought I, tall, lurpy, boyfriend-less self....was special!

Today, my boys woke up with small gifts and a giant frog balloon waiting for them on this special day of LOVE. Today, Valentine's Day has taken on something new for me. Not a celebration of romance or the hope of getting roses...today for me it means loving the life I am so lucky to have. Loving the boys that mean more to me then anything in the world. My only hope...that in 25 years they have the same realization I have had "that someone, even if it is Mom, thinks they are special...VERY SPECIAL!"



I hope today you spend a little time with those people in your life that are special to you! In the end I think it is less about this one single day and gifts that don't mean anything...and more about making the people who are special to you feel and know that they are loved beyond words.

Happy Valentine's Day :)



...And friendship...which counts nearly as much as family love ;)...