Valentine's Day

I have a few thoughts on valentine's day.

1. I think the holiday is infinitely more fun as a kids holiday, than as a romantic lover holiday. Blah, on the romance. Its about party, treats and silly paper cards.
2. Turns out I must really enjoy making cupcakes and sugar cookies; I've three batches of both sugar cookies and cupcakes in three weeks.
3. I enjoy making my kids homemade valentine's presents, but it took me a while to figure out why. Christmas and birthdays are already filled with multitudes of stuff, a stupid homemade doll that mom makes would be lost and never thought of, I don't need praise from my children, but if I spend the time to make something, I would at least like it to be played with once. Since I do enjoy making them little things, valentines provides a nice opportunity. Not to mention they get a "valentine" without me shoving even more sugar in their little bodies.
4. I despise the idea that infatuation, lust, or extravagance towards a person is love. Love is not about what you receive, its about what you give, and I don't mean material objects. Hollywood movies do not show love, a better example would be when President and Sister Hinckley were alive. Real fulfillment is in giving love not receiving love. Which is why a parent claims to love a child more than they can understand.
   
5. As cheesey as it sound to quote a song, yesterday when I was driving to Tumbling for Preschoolers, Maroon 5's She Will Be Loved came on the radio, now I'd hardly use this song as a example of love, but I still like the line that says, "It's not always rainbows and butterflies, It's compromise that moves us along" Anyone who thinks love isn't about sacrificing what you want for the betterment of someone else is sorely mistaken.
6. No I don't think 5 years of marriage makes me an expert on marriage or love. But I have some pet peeves when people use the word "love" so what better place to express them then on my blog.
7. We like the world love in our house, I tell my husband that about 10 times a day, and he expresses it back about 80% of the time. But I don't expect him to ever reciprocate just because I said something. Not to mention he also says, i love you, without me repeating it back. My children hear me tell them so much, my son always tells his grandmas, bye, I love you. He also tells his dad that when he leaves for work or school. My daughter instantly smiles when she hears it, she knows what it means.
8. Finally, I know my husband loves me, because 3 months after we were married, he took this picture of me, and was so proud. Personally I think he was just proud that his new wife was drinking an expired juice box from his mom's pantry. If that picture doesn't show love I don't know what else does. At least I know, he didn't marry me for my looks, and he will still want to be sitting next to me in 50 years.