Valentines Day

Happy Valentine's Day.  It's not really a day that I look forward to usually.  This year was different.  I decided that I would make it an enjoyable day instead of sitting around pouting.  This past weekend I got busy.  I dipped pretzel rods in white and dark chocolate.  I made a batch of shortbread hearts and bought little baggies, and pretty ribbon and cut little red hearts out of red scrap book paper.  I have to say that everything turned out wonderfully.  The recipients of the little goodies were as happy to recieve them as I was to give them.
     One of the things I wanted to try out this year was to do as many home-made gifts as I could.  For one thing it's  fun and I think they mean more to people, most especially kids.  I think kids love it when you take the time to make something special just for them.  Anyone can go to the mall and buy the latest and greatest gift, but to really listen or watch your children and then create something especially for them results in double happiness.  At least I think so.  For my daughter this Valentine's Day I made heart shaped pizza with heart shaped pepperoni (yes I cut them out myself - step aside Martha Stewart!) and brownies in a heart shaped pan.  I also mailed her a card - she thought that was so funny.  "Why didn't you just put it in our mailbox mom?"  I told her that was cheating.  I also made her a place mat.  I drew a heart on it and listed all the things I love about her inside the heart.  She was so tickled.  Yep, I could have bought her that little necklace she saw at the mall, but it wouldn't have been nearly as much fun!
     Yesterday my daughter was lamenting the fact that she didn't do anything for me for Valentines' Day and I told her that when she was older and had money of her own she could worry about Valentines for me then.  I was pleasantly surprised to find that she had been a little creative herself and she created for me a "slide show" on our Keynote program.  It was great!  I think that was the best Valentines Day present I could have ever asked for.
    What this all boils down to is this, Valentines Day, or any other holiday for that matter, doesn't have to cost a lot of money.  Small creative gifts from the heart are much more fun to give and to receive.  That goes for couples too I think.  Don't fret, just get creative.  Use what you have and what you know.  What matters is the thoughtfulness and the time you took to be creative and give a gift from your heart.  I think that's what love is all about.  So  Happy Valentine's Day everyone.  Snuggle up with the ones you love tonight and just enjoy each other!