{heart}

"I hate love day."

That is what Jason told me before we got married. It was our first Valentines, and we weren't really together, we were on a "break." But still, that is not something a girl wants to hear from a guy she just KNOWS she will marry someday.

He didn't like the pressure, all the millions of jewelry commercials screaming to him that he must buy, . . . . the "fakeness" of it. He said if it was a real holiday he would like it, but it was a fake one. WELL . . . . .

You see, Jason was that guy that wouldn't say "I love you" until he KNEW he was gonna marry that girl. He even decided that he could kiss girls, but that he would save holding hands with a girl until that girl was going to be his wife. He felt that holding hands was something he looked forward to doing when he was old and grey, sitting on the porch swing with his sweetie, watching the grandkids play, . . . so he would save the holding of hands for THAT grey haired girl and no one else.

Fast forward 10 years, and now I understand what he means.

Sure, I'm a girl, I like getting flowers, I like getting candy, I like candlelit dinners, but I LOVE all that stuff when it just happens. Not just because it's February 14th. My sweetie is my Valentine all year long. He makes me a steak and shrimp dinner after the kids go to bed almost every Friday night. He puts my blanket in the dryer for 10 minutes while I am getting ready for bed, so that it's nice and cozy and warm when I sleep. He text messages me during the day to let me know he is thinking of me. He gives me a kiss every morning before he walks out the door. He shows me he loves me each and everyday of the year.

This is why we don't make a big "to-do" about Valentines Day. We make it special for the kids, and we rejoice in the love that we have for our family, our friends and neighbors and of course each other.

Last night Jason told me that he likes the day of love now. Because it's more of a day of LOVE! Not a day of "making-sure-I-shower-you-with-gifts-otherwise-I-don't-love-you-enough day."

That is why we now {heart} valentines day!!!

The kids helped me decorate the table all cute and then we had heart shaped pizza's for dinner and chocolate fondue with strawberries, marshmellows, pretzels, and pound cake. The kids had so much fun. Blaise said we should eat by candlelight every night because it was like we were at a restuarant.

Happy Valentines Day!!