Love, Love, Love

I must confess that Valentine's Day has never been a holiday for which I made a great hullabaloo. But this year, for some reason, I am excited to celebrate love. I feel particularly blessed to have my husband, my daughter, my parents, my brother, my in-laws, my friends, and my partners in the ministry. I feel honored to be able to be at home and raise our daughter. And most of all, I feel peace. I feel the peace of God in my mind, my heart, and my soul. There is absolutely nothing as wonderful as the love of God. "We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us." - 1 John 3:16

Below are a few ideas for surprising your family this Valentine's Day. Feel free to comment with your own idea(s).

• Sneak into their rooms the night before and leave a bag of treats by their beds.*
• Tint the breakfast oatmeal pink. Throw in a few red cinnamon candies.*
• Tie a red balloon to each person's kitchen chair.*
• Make heart-shaped muffins or cupcakes by placing a cupcake paper into each compartment of a muffin tin, then popping a marble in between the tin and the paper. Fill with batter and bake.*
• Have a "Valentine Hunt" in your house. Cut out paper hearts and then hide them all over your house. Whoever finds the most wins a prize.
• Write a greeting to your spouse on the bathroom mirror with a dry-erase marker or lipstick.
• Cut sandwiches into heart shapes with cookie-cutter or knife.
• Tuck a surprise valentine on your spouse's vehicle dashboard before he/she leaves for work.
  
  *Taken from Queen of the Castle by Lynn Bowen Walker