what keeps LOVE alive

Every year it comes, it is on the calendar but still The Man thinks that it is a planned day for men to be caught, put on the spot and yet again scrutinized for their lack of the WOW factor. Valentines Day is a real stressful day for the men in our lives, what to do, what will get that "Awhh Honey you shouldn't have" response and make all their wives girlfriends green with envy. After 13 years I have realized that if I want that kinda of a day then I need to VOCALIZE what it is that will do it for me. So Sunday night I sat The Man down and told him what would do it. We already had the kids farmed out for Thursday night for a work dinner. So I asked him to take a personal day off of work and spend the day with me.

What?!

That was it, no large purchases, no trips to the spa. I think he was stunned that I did not have a laundry list of things that I wanted. What I really wanted was to make some memories with my sweetheart.

Thursday morning dawned and I was so excited to know that I had The Man all to myself, no phone, no computer, just us. Once the kids were off to school we read the paper and leisurely got ready for the day. Then it was off to a place that we have not gone to together for a very long time- The Bountiful Temple. This place has special meaning for us and it was good to go back there again. It was such a spiritual boost that I think we both needed. We enjoyed a leisurely lunch talking about us, no kids, no bills, no deep topics, just things that were light and enjoyable. Then we went and did something that we have never done, jewelry shopping. I want a plain band or an anniversary band to wear during my clinicals. My ring is too big and glove ripping to not get trashed on the job. So we went looking and it was so fun- window shopping. I missed doing this when we got married. I told The Man what ring I wanted and he had the ring made, so when he placed it on my finger that was the first time that I saw my ring.

Then it was home to get the kids ready to go to Grandma & Grandpa's for the evening and homework squared away. We dropped the kids off and decided to skip the work dinner and go see a movie. We had the theater all to ourselves, that has never happened before. We sat where we wanted to, we had a popcorn fight and we laughed loud and long. Then we sat there and did what most teenagers do at drive-in's - we made out. It was so fun and so thrilling thinking we were going to get caught at any minute and traumatize some poor teenaged kid just wanting to clean the theater. At this time we needed to get the kids and realized that this was the first time all day that we had looked at the clock. It was sad to think that the day was coming to an end, but it had been a great day. On the drive home, holding the hand of my man I reflected on what a good day it had been. I had the day that I wanted, I had spent it with my favorite person, and I was truly content and happy. This year I loved Valentine's Day - it was everything I wanted and so much more, it is a day that I will remember for a long time to come.

Happy Valentine's Day - go make some memories with your Sweetheart.