I plan to spend this Valentine's Day with my family. I've made valentines for my niece and nephew and am armed with craft supplies to help them make some for their parents. My dear sister has a debilitating degenerative disease and wanted to spend Valentine's Day with me! My plans are to spend the day with her, and then help her get all prettied up to go on a date with her husband that night. Then I'll enjoy pizza and games with the kids. The whole day is about spending time with those you love, not always romantically, but love in all its forms. I find the most fun in giving sweet gifts to friends and family. I love this holiday!
I have quite a few wonderful female friends who happen to be single. Instead of ignoring or dreading Valentine's Day this year, we're going to embrace it. I've sent an e-mail invitation to these women for "Our Big Fat Valentine's Night." The plan is that after work they'll come to my place, where we'll make cookies, eat chocolate and other munchies, and watch a double-feature of chick flicks, including "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," which conveniently comes out on video/DVD this week. And of course … no boys allowed!
This year on Valentine's Day, I'll be in Guatemala for a short-term mission trip with 20 other people from my church. While there, we'll work on several construction projects, help operate a health clinic (two of our team members are doctors), and stage a few outreach events in one or more of the remote mountain villages. Being single has allowed me the freedom to take a week's vacation from work to help others in need. I've never been out of the country and can think of no better reason to make my first trip.
For years after my husband left, I dreaded Valentine's Day. It always left me feeling rejected and empty, like half of a person. Even though we know God is the ultimate love of our life, sometimes we need a human touch. This year is a double whammy for me: Valentine's Day is near and I still don't have a sweetheart, and I turn 40. But my priorities have changed a great deal over the years. It's not all about me anymore. Now I give out valentines like they're tic-tacs. I call friends and family with mushy wishes, and I smother my children with hearts and candy. The responses I get back are much more fulfilling and longer lasting than that empty box of chocolates and dying bundle of flowers. Now I can hardly wait until Valentine's Day!
My single friend and I are leaving for Italy on Valentine's Day! Not exactly the greatest day to be in an airport, I know, but I don't think my married friends could get away with that one on V-day. Italy here we come!
This year for Valentine's Day, I'm teaming up with Jordan, a 12-year-old girl at church, and we're fixing a romantic dinner for her parents. Then we'll go to another couple's house and fix a romantic dinner for them. After dinner, they'll go out to a movie and we'll stay and baby-sit their one year old. Jordan and I started this ministry a few months ago. We pick a family every month and fix dinner for them, then they go out and we stay to baby-sit. It's a wonderful opportunity to share God's love and to teach others to give of themselves.
