In the past 28 years I’m pretty sure I’ve spent a total of three Valentine’s Days with actual boyfriends.
1991 – I was in the 3rd grade and my “boyfriend” was Clay Smith. He gave every one in class the typical perforated fold in half Valentine from the grocery store, but for me…I got an actual Valentine’s Card with Tweety Bird on it! Oh be still my heart!
1996 – Now I was in the 8th grade and dating Justin Lowth. I remember everyone gathering in the main hallway before school and everyone looking around waiting to see what all the couples would exchange for the big day. I thought it was so sweet because Justin had given me the cutest little teddy bear…only until the end of the day when I found out that teddy bear came free with his Whataburger breakfast that morning!
2010 – I was 27 and dating Jonathan. He was going to be out of town on actual Valentine’s Day so we celebrated a few days earlier. He got me a new book, the 2nd season of Big Love, and wrote me the most amazing love letter!
Basically I’ve spent more Valentine’s single rather than with a boy!
However, Valentine’s Day is probably my favorite holiday. I’ve always loved this day for some reason. I just love LOVE…whether with friends, family, or even boyfriends.
So as this Valentines approached I began to prepare my plans and determine who I wanted to love on most. So I planned a whole day of playing Cupid and delivering a little “love” for all the special people in my life. I even headed over to Hobby Lobby for supplies so that I could hand make my Valentine's cards this year. Here is one example...
I got dressed up in various shades of pink so that I would play the Cupid part right!
My first stop was dropping off some homemade treats and Valentine’s card for the Mailman. I have always wanted to do that!
Then headed down the road to treat myself to my favorite…Chick Fil A breakfast!
Then picked up a Sonic drink and headed through Richardson to Bowie Elementary school to drop off a drink, treats, and card for my friend Jeni. Luckily they let me walk down the halls and hand deliver my gift. She was so excited…love it!
Then headed across town to Wylie to drop off the same set of goodies for Kathryn and her little boy Braxton. Sadly they weren’t so nice and made me leave my gifts at the front desk and deprived me the joy of seeing their smiles!
My next stop was to the post office to mail off Chad’s Valentine’s gift…love him!
Back into the car and up 75 to Reed Elementary in Allen. I picked up my girls favorite Sonic drinks and snuck past the front desk and hand delivered them to my 1st grade girls.
The best part was that Megan’s class was writing sentences using sayings from those Valentine’s conversation hearts. I was cracking up! Little Luke’s was especially hilarious!
Then I left and went around the corner to Olson Elementary with some Chick Fil A lunch for me and Mindy. Yes…Chick Fil A twice in one day and loving every bite!
I was supposed to surprise Jodi at school by dropping off lunch for her, but her little man Wyatt ended up sick so she stayed home from school. So after the Allen deliveries, I headed back to Richardson to go to Jodi’s house. This change of plans was just what I needed. I got to sit on Jodi’s couch and do nothing but have girl talk for 2 hours with my best friend!
Finally, I made it back home. Now it was time to set up the living room for the little Valentine’s celebration I had planned for my roommates!
The night before I wrote a poem for them and hung it on the door coming in from the garage because I knew they’d be coming home at the same time after YoungLife club that night.
Then I set up the coffee table with yummy treats, flowers, placemats, homemade cards, and their gifts….matching Valentine’s pajama pants.
I hid in the hallway when they came in and loved hearing their excitement as they read the poem and found all the goodies I’d set up for them.
I mean I LOVE Love day!
We stayed up for another hour just talking about our day and agreeing that it was a great Valentine’s Day…and none of us celebrated with a boy!
And the added bonus was today at school whilst I was subbing. I had just finished giving a TAKS simulation test and Mrs. Hochevar came to the room and told me I had a visitor at the front desk. WHAT? Who in the world would be coming to see me at a school I don't even work at anymore?
I got up there and it was sweet Carson. Carson was in my kindergarten class 3 years ago and is now in the 3rd grade at a different school. Carson had a rough kindergarten year with me as we worked to get his behavior in check. The thing is...I LOVE kids like Carson. He used to throw furniture, destroy my desk, claw at me, and constantly tell me how much he hated me...but deep down I knew he loved me. And he proved today when he and his mom randomly showed up at school to drop off the Valentine's note that he wrote for me. They didn't know I had taken the year off so the Lord really came through with timing since I happened to be up at school today. I love that three years later Carson still thinks of me on Love Day. Oh this made my day!
I look forward to the day when Cupid really comes knocking on my door and shows me what it feels like to celebrate Love Day with a man that I truly love, but until then….
Thank you God for all the LOVE you’ve given me in my life!!
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