Y’all, I love Valentine’s Day. Not for the flowers or the cards. Not even for the chocolates (I prefer to get mine on sale in the days following the 14th). No, I just love the excuse to be sappy and adorable and obnoxious.
We’re a busy couple with a 4mo old that requires constant attention, as most littles do. And since we’re trying to budget to replace our dying vehicle, we don’t go out to eat very often. So things like Valentine’s Day, birthdays, anniversary’s…they’re all great excuses to cook up a delicious, special dinner, pick out a movie, have a few adult beverages, and make a night of it. Our Valentine’s Day may look a little different than it used to, or maybe than a lot of other people’s, but I love it.
There’s something beautiful about making the everyday…special. It’s one of my favorite things about the relationship that John and I have cultivated over the last 5 years. While we were dating, engaged, and even in the early years of our marriage, because of his work schedule and my school schedule, we didn’t see much of each other. He worked long overnight hours, and I had long daytime school hours. As a result, even the most mundane tasks like grocery shopping, making dinner, and doing laundry became opportunities. Opportunities that we learned to take full advantage of to build our relationship on a solid foundation of time, trust, and all the little things.
Today is no different. Parenthood may be throwing us a few curve balls in the romance department this Valentine’s Day, but I have some delicious-looking steaks defrosting in the fridge, potatoes ready to be cooked up, and some ice cream leftover in the freezer, and we plan to have ourselves one heck of a great time tonight hanging out, watching a movie and keeping the dog and the baby entertained.
