A Happy Valentines Day

Valentines Day can look very different from household to household. No matter how you celebrate Valentines Day, I hope that it is fun and special. And if you don’t celebrate valetines, then I hope your day is still filled with joy and love. We can use a little more of it in our world anyways.

For our family it’s not something huge to celebrate. I teach my children why Valentines is celebrated, with the true meaning about St. Valentine. We don’t do gifts at all, more just special treats I typically try to make myself (and of course chocoalte is involved). We do some fun cards for those we love, but I don’t get persuaded by the commerialism of Valentines Day. I try to teach my children to do an act of kindness or love on Valentines, something we should be doing daily.

In a sense I almost boycott it all on principle, the commercialism part of it. I want it to be a heart condition in our family and one that we chose daily. Chosing to love even when it’s hard, and learning to make sacrifices for those around us, like St. Valentine did himself. We can lose the meaning of Valentines in the red balloons and roses, and the chocolate stained fingertips or chocolatey smiles of our kids.

But for some, Valentines is specail for their loved ones and I’ve learned to welcome that as well, because everyone may celebrate holidays a little different and that is fine. I take the opportunity to use it as a day to teach my child more about what love is and who models loves for us, our Heavenly Father. Whether at 3 and almost 18 months they get it, I don’t know, but I am starting them young.

For us, it’s not just recognizing those we love one day a year, but continuing to do it daily. Today may just be a little extra special I say, because we can have a little more treats than we would on our average day and we can use a little more glitter and pink and red heart stickers.

Mariah and I hope you have a wonderful Valentines Day!! And remember you don’t have to have much to make it special for your children. What our children long for is unconditional love, more than the newest toy. I promise you that. So make their day special with a few extra hugs and kisses and some quality time together, uninterrupted.

And for your spouse or loved ones, make it special with a homemade treat or a card. And if you have a little extra to spend, some flowers or a coffee card. Whatever it is you know your spouse or loved one loves. Again, it doesn’t have to be spendy. Need an idea for something quick and easy to make, try my Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Cookies.  A crowd favorite for sure.

Just remember to be kind to yourself today and a little extra kindness to others as well. And don’t forget to let yourself enjoy some chocolate if you can 😉 Or for Mariah it’s Fatburger….whatever it is.

Until Next Time Be Whole and Be Fit