anatomy of a perfect valentine's day

we had a fabulous valentine's day for two important reasons.

one. valentine's day marked the end of our most recent sugar fast. which sounded too depressing so we called it a sugar-free adventure. but it was actually still sort of depressing either way. the end was welcome. we marked it with a whole batch of great-grandma's ginger snaps.

two. AWD has become a master of surprise, and whisked me away for a valentine's day weekend getaway. we ensconced ourselves at the black horse inn, a charming civil war-era building turned into a bed and breakfast in the heart of virginia farm and horse country. we had breakfast made for us every morning, and our room had a jacuzzi and a fireplace.

i'll leave it at that.

we explored the little town of warrenton (old houses and the old jail museum, plus loads of delicious food), and spent a day at the dulles extension of the air and space museum learning all about the discovery space shuttle and other wonders.

the only bad thing was that it ended.

hearts away

we had a valentine's-themed family home evening last night, and i can safely say it was a rousing success.

i started us off with a lesson about charity (because what else would we talk about at a valentine's-themed family home evening?) including this quote from president monson, which i absolutely love (and not just because it's almost valentine's day). it goes like this:

"I consider charity-- or "the pure love of Christ"-- to be the opposite of criticism and judging. In speaking of charity, I do not at this moment have in mind the relief of the suffering through the giving of our substance. That, of course, is necessary and proper. Tonight, however, I have in mind the kind of charity that manifests itself when we are tolerant of others and lenient towards their actions, the kind of charity that forgives, the kind of charity that is patient.

I have in mind the charity that impels us to be sympathetic, compassionate, and merciful, not only in times of sickness and affliction and distress but also in times of weakness or error on the part of others.

There is a serious need for the charity that gives attention to those who are unnoticed, hope to those who are discouraged, aid to those who are afflicted. True charity is love in action. The need for charity is everywhere."

did i mention how much i love this quote? i love it because this is the kind of charity i would like to have, the kind that does not judge or criticize. and i love it because this is the kind of charity that has been shown to me, the kind that is lenient and forgiving. i have been so blessed, as i have fumbled through my own progression, with friends and family who have patiently let me keep trying. i am very grateful for that, and for them.

after the lesson, we ate shortbread cookies (mama hellewell's recipe!) and decorated boxes to hold the valentine cards we made for each other. (and yes, AWD labeled his "the love box." i nearly died laughing.)

laura and robert entertained us all the while with the tale of their first meeting, courtship, engagement and marriage, as well as with their slightly risque valentines for one another. if you think that we are almost more adorable than you can stand, you are probably right.

heart to hearts

i have never been one to honor a strict observance of valentine's day, but the other day i was reading emily the cliff's blog and she had a link to her friend megan's blog, and megan was doing this "14 days of valentine's" thing where she asked 14 people to make a list of 14 things they loved, and while i am a little late to that party i figured the least i could do would be to make a list of 14 things i love, because valentine's day aside i certainly believe in love and think it deserves to be celebrated.

(i realize that whole paragraph was one, big, run-on sentence, so take a minute to catch your breath.)

ready?

here we go.

1. eating food cooked by someone else

2. laughing so hard i can't stop; also suddenly bursting into laughter about something that happened a long time ago; also reading or watching something that makes me laugh out loud on the train or a plane or sitting in my cubicle or when i am by myself. so, pretty much laughing

3. unexpectedly running into people i like when i am out and about around town

4. brunch

5. sending and receiving mail

6. my house filled with people having a good time

7. falling asleep in other people's beds

8. fresh flowers, especially when they are given to me

9. farmer's markets

10. james bond movies, the jason bourne movies and pretty much any other movie in the action/heist/spy variety no matter how dumb it is as long as it is not too violent

11. when i remember people's birthdays. of, of course, when people remember mine

12. my bike and riding it just about anywhere

13. writing, writing, writing

14. that moment when a new place feels like home for the first time

and you, of course. much love to all of you.

"thank you for giving us a day for love"

i have basically neutral feelings about valentine's day. i've only had one truly traumatic valentines experience (it involved me, a boy i liked, and a dead rose. he said it was a statement about consumerism, but i couldn't help feeling it was a statement about me), and lots of really happy valentines experiences, often involving local productions of "the vagina monologues" or the colin firth version of "pride and prejudice."

this year, in the madness of post-india readjustment, i almost completely forgot valentine's day was coming until my cousin keri invited me to join in a decades-old family tradition of valentine's day dinner. this year it was heart-shaped belgian waffles and other yummy breakfast food on a stunningly-prepared table (kathryn went all out with heart-shaped dishes, an adorable centerpiece and gifts at each plate). emma gave an adorable prayer over the food with gratitude for lots of things, including: "thank you for giving us a day for love." at that moment, i couldn't have agreed more. i think i'd like to try harder to make every day a day for love.

the night was rounded out by the usual antics of children on sugar highs, and the revelation that peggy used to think the "flashdance" lyrics, "take your passion, make it happen" were actually "take your pants off, make it happen." really the same concept expressed slightly differently, if you ask me.




the valentine's day table, complete with placecards and gifts at every plate. there was also a door prize for the person who could say "i love you" in the most languages. suzanne was the winner. (where did she learn hebrew?)



me with peggy, keri and baby joshua from across the street (karen was watching him because his parents were out to a romantic dinner. ours was better but, whatever.)



keri, whipping up our delicious and adorable heart-shaped belgian waffles. (the kids dowsed theirs in chocolate *and* maple syrup.)



karen and suzanne (they got into the spirit by dressing in pink.)




the hostess with the most-ess. kathryn in her valentine's day sweater, with the treasure-chest of candy dreams.

i also got the annual valentine's day package from my mom. this year's gems included a pink tablecloth (being used as we speak. or as we write and read respectively, i guess), and a card in which my mom wrote, "i heart frances." her response when i told her everyone was impressed with her hipness: "well, it's really no trouble at all." amen to that.