Valentines Dinner

Valentines Dinner has been a tradition in our home for as long as I can remember. Valentines Day is a perfect reason to celebrate love for each other in fun ways. I have always looked at Valentines as a holiday that is not just for people in “romantic” relationships. It’s a holiday to share appreciation and love for those around you. There are a few fun ways that I have made the holiday special as my kids grew but one that has been able to last even into their adult lives with their own families.

Our tradition is simply to share a special dinner together. I have the table decorated with fresh flowers and candles. I usually have a little surprise for my special guests placed on their chair. When the kids were little, it might be a toy or candy and as the kids grew, the surprise changed to household items or sometimes cash. The table will be set with china and candlelight. We often dress up a bit because it seems to add a special touch to the dinner.

Valentines was a time for crafts and candy when I was little and when I was raising my children. We would make homemade Valentines and Valentines boxes for their cards and was always something we looked forward to and I’m thankful. During the school years of valentine season, we would shop and the kids would choose their Valentines that they would sign and pass out at school. I enjoyed seeing their choices because it always showed a piece of their personality. It is a joy to celebrate what your kids love, even if its not what you would have picked out yourself.

There are always people through the years that will downplay the celebration of Valentines but what I tell my children and will always believe is, if you're given a reason to make memories with your loved ones, always take it. I see each holiday as an extra gift to celebrate and make special memories with my family.

Most of all, its important to not get overwhelmed by the pressure of the memories to be made. You don’t have to start a Valentines dinner tradition to make Valentines special. I would encourage you to just try to make the day unique even if it’s something as little as making a special breakfast, dying the gallon of milk red for your kids to be excited about or sharing a sweet treat with someone that you love. God created us all with unique gifts and joys to be embraced, whatever those gifts are for you, embrace the day and use them for His glory. No meal or craft is perfect, its not about the tradition itself but the love given through it. There are so many ways to make your family feel loved and why would we not want to embrace the day to bless others?

I encourage you to embrace the day in a new way this year and give extra love where its welcomed. Have fun and love well.

These are photos from our Valentines Dinners through the years. Don't forget to take a picture, soon it will be a special memory forever!