HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!!!


(look at how cute this is!!! We went for one of our favorite snacks the other day--Krispy Kreme doughnuts--and when Delaney and Scout ordered their chocolate sprinkled ones, they arrived like this. Cute little heart-shaped KKs! I loved them. Now, THAT'S a way to celebrate Valentine's Day!!!)

I hope all of you have a wonderful day! If you are married or otherwise "attached," I hope you take the opportunity to spend some quality time with your loved one. Sometimes--especially after we've been together for many years--we lose some of the attachment and passion we once had, simply because we don't spend quality time together. Kids and work and activities get in the way...but they shouldn't. So, take time today to simply be together (personally, I think that's better than any ole roses you can get!).

If you're unattached, realize that there is a lot of beauty in that too! Appreciate yourself today; buy yourself something special. Invite a bunch of friends out to eat or to the movies. Don't let the day get you down in the dumps!

(And, you know, I'd never really thought of another group of people who might have a hard time at Valentine's Day. Have you ever thought about how widows and widowers feel on this day? Well, a lady at my church decided to host a special lunch today just for widows and she asked me to make table favors for each plate. It was a joy to do that for them, because I can only imagine how hard it must be to not have your husband after so many years!)

So...what are your plans for the day?

We greeted the girls this morning with goodie baskets. Sydney woke up at 6:30, which is actually really early for her! She went to bed last night talking about the puppy she was gonna get (I guess she saw me sneak it into the buggy! lol), and she loved it when she got it this morning!

Gary and I are going to lunch today, to both avoid the rush crowds tonight and also because everyone has activities tonight and it would be hard to work around those. So, we will do Olive Garden (I was gonna try some place new, but I kept coming back to the OG!) and enjoy some time without kids!

Then, tonight I will make us a special Valentine-themed dinner and treats for the whole family. I'm thinking chocolate covered strawberries, wine (sparkling grape juice for the girls), maybe some cupcakes. We'll see!

It's on days like this that the world tries to make us remember to love each other. But, you know...we really should be doing it everyday, without anyone reminding us to do it. I know that there are times when I take for granted what I have...or I may not tell those around me how much I love them...but I really do try and make EVERYDAY an opportunity to be loved and love others in return.

I really am blessed. I really am loved. And I really am thankful for it.

I have awesome friends. I have amazing parents who love me.

I have three wonderful daughters who bring so much joy to my life. I get hugs and kisses from Sydney multiple times everyday; I get an "I love you" every morning when I drop Delaney off at school (and every night before bed); I get meaningful conversations with McKenna, when a lot of times teenagers won't even share the important things with their parents.

So...I am blessed and I am loved. And I thank God for those three amazing girls everyday.

And I have a wonderful husband who sacrifices so much for me and the girls. He works hard for us. He takes care of us. And he loves his daughters more than any man I know. His face lights up when he sees them do well; and the tears come when he knows they're having a hard time. He laughs with them, and plays games with them, and cheers them on.

And he spends time with me. And he laughs with me (and sometimes at me! lol). And he makes me feel loved. And he tells me he loves me.

And I am blessed because I have in my life.

So, I am going to take the opportunity today to relish in the fact that I am so blessed. And I'm going to not feel guilty about taking part in this man-made, sometimes-a-bit-too-commercial holiday. And... I am going to try and extend the hearts-and-candy-and-flowers feeling into tomorrow and next week and next month and beyond.

I hope that YOU have a wonderful day filled with happy little moments and a joyful realization of how much you have in your life. Please know how much you mean to me on this happy day!

And now, my favorite "love" song right now. It's a good one!



See ya tomorrow (when I am kinda anticipating Photo Overload!!).