Valentine's Day

 Yesterday was Valentine's day and it wasn't a very memorable one. Josh was out of town and I went to the gym. I did convince Leisa to come out to lunch with me afterwards and that was fun but then I taught piano and drove my kids around and went to basketball practice and got everyone in bed.  I do love Valentine's day though and have been thinking about ones of the past that were memorable. 

The first that comes to mind is February 14, 1998. It was a Saturday and Josh and I had been dating since late November. We decided to spend the day together so I planned our day activities and he took the night time. I decided to go to this state park that is supposed to be beautiful with lots of waterfalls so I drove us the two hours there only to discover that everything was frozen and we were the only people in the park. It was freezing and such a bust, but we walked (slipped) around and grabbed some lunch at Subway and drove the two hours back. We were just so happy to be together, it didn't really matter that my idea was a total failure. I had made a tape to listen to on the drive and at the end I said "I love you" for the first time. Josh said it didn't count because I didn't actually say it to him in person but we pulled over and talked for a bit and he told me he definitely loved me too. 

We got back to Rochester and he took me to dinner at Friendly's and then we tried to see a movie but it was sold out so we went back to his house and watched A Walk in the Clouds in his basement. When it was over he gave me the gold necklace I almost always wear and told me it represented his friendship, loyalty and love. Then he turned on My Heart Will Go On (we had held hands during Titanic for the first time about 3 weeks beforehand) and we danced. During the song we had our first kiss, which lasted maybe a nano second because we were both so nervous, but our lips did touch for the first time that night. It was a beautiful day despite how almost nothing went as we had planned. 

The next two years we were at college in different states (well, in February 2000 I was actually in London on study abroad and he managed to send me the most beautiful flowers) and then for Valentine's day of 2001 he was on his mission and 2002 we were both on missions and in 2003 he was home but I was still a few weeks away from returning. But Valentine's day 2004 was our first one married and it was also a Saturday. We were living in Provo and after attending the sealing for one of the sister missionaries who taught Josh, we decided it would be fun to go sledding. We borrowed some sleds from our neighbor who had kids and went to Rock Canyon park to sled down a pretty good hill there. We had fun on one run and went back up to the top for a second try. The problem is that the snow had been around for a few days and had gotten icy. Also at the bottom of the hill off to one side was a walking path that had been plowed and therefore created a ridge at the bottom. We got on the sled and unfortunately this time went the wrong way down the hill and the sled went straight into that icy ridge and we went flying. Josh did a face plant while I tumbled over the icy snow such that I had little pin pricks of blood all over my checks from being scraped. I was overjoyed I had not died because it felt like I might as I flew through the air and then skidded across that hard snow. We got up and stumbled back to the car having only gone down the hill twice. We went back to our apartment and took a warm bath and Josh made pizza and we watched Ever After. 

In 2005 our bishop (who owned a reception hall) hosted our married ward for a nice dinner/party and then the next night Josh took me to A Night in 1942 which was a dinner and swing dancing event on campus. It was so much fun and someday I'd really like to get good at swing dancing. In 2006 I was sick and Josh walked all the way up to north campus where I worked to bring me cold medicine so I could feel better and then that night we watched the Olympics in Torino. 

February 2007 is when Josh's Grammy passed away so we flew from LA to Rochester the next day and her funeral was February 14, 2007. It was a sad day and so cold and snowy. She couldn't even be buried that day because of the feet of snow that covered the cemetery. At this point I had only seen Josh cry a few times and this day was one of them. He was very close to his Grammy (she lived with them his whole life) and I was actually quite close to her as well. She was a super sweet and quiet lady and always kind and she loved when I would play the piano for her. It was tough to say goodbye and to experience all the grief of Josh's mom and sister especially, but we had lunch with his cousins/aunts/uncles afterwards, all of whom I like, so that was nice time together. 

February 2008 was memorable because for Valentine's day we sent out valentines to all of our family members telling them that I was pregnant with Lily. I had been trying to get pregnant for four years and it was so exciting to finally announce to everyone, especially since I had known since early December. My family was all spread out and I thought it would be a fun surprise to get a valentine from baby Darrow and then we got happy calls throughout the next couple of days as people received them. 

We spent February 14, 2009 house hunting all day. We had flown in from Ohio to southern MD on Friday evening and spent all day Saturday looking at houses (and mostly being disappointed) and then finally finding the duplex in Wildewood that we thought we could make work. We went to dinner at Cheeseburger in Paradise (we had baby Lily with us) and discussed it and then Sunday morning we went to church, decided we felt good about the house so we went to the office to put in the offer and then flew back to Ohio so Josh could be in class on Monday. He defended his thesis a few weeks later, graduated at the end of March and we moved into that house April 10, 2009. 

In 2010 we did a dinner swap with the Watsons so we went out while they watched Lily and then they went out later while we watched Kale. I was days away from giving birth to Curtis though so it was a low-key celebration. 2011 we made pink cupcakes because Lily was really into Pinkilicious and did another dinner swap with the Watsons. 2012 Josh brought home TX Roadhouse for dinner and we went to the YW fundraiser sweetheart dance that was fun. 2013 I was rather pregnant with Emma but Josh brought home dinner and roses and we went to an Elders Quorum date night activity. 2014 was another YW fundraiser dinner/dance and a fun valentine's day playgroup at Sarah's house. 

February 2015 was a very challenging time for us. Brandon had just been born in January and Lily kind of went berserk. She started having a really hard time going to bed and being very upset and worried, which made this already tired mom pretty much lose it. I remember going to a temple recommend interview with President Volk and just crying and him promising me this tough time would pass. On Valentine's day Lily and Curtis were both sick so we stayed home and watched movies and Josh brought me roses. 

I don't know what happened in 2016 and in 2017 Josh was out of town and I hosted the valentine playgroup and made heart-shaped quesadillas for the kids for dinner. In 2018 Josh brought dinner home and then he and Curtis went to cub scouts. 2019 was when we went to dinner at Okada with some church couples and then to see She Loves Me and we convinced the Wiests and Tripps to get milkshakes with us at Applebees afterwards. On the actual day Josh brought home Cafe Rio (the glory days when it was open by our house) and roses and we had a good family discussion on the prodigal son and we told the kids we would always love them, no matter what. We also told friends they could drop off their kids and we babysat a whole bunch of little kids one night so their parents could go on a date that weekend. 

2020 was when Chelsea offered to watch our kids so we went to Potbelly for dinner because we didn't want to fight crowds or wait forever and we relaxed at home before we had to go pick them up. In 2021 Josh was on crutches for Valentine's day and couldn't drive and it was super snowy and icy out so it was hard for him to even go outside. He ordered Texas Roadhouse that I went and picked up and then I dropped him and the kids off at Harris Teeter so they could help him get some flowers and a fancy dessert for us. Actual Valentine's day was a Sunday so we went to church and I made BBQ ribs for dinner and we made sugar cookies that afternoon. 

In 2022 we had a delay so we got to sleep in and Josh brought me flowers and a balloon. I gave the kids a book, chocolates and a valentine (as I do every year) and then Josh brought Mission BBQ home and took Curtis to basketball practice. Last year, 2023, Michelle and I went to get pedicures because I was getting ready to go on my big 20th anniversary trip. We also went to lunch and then the rest of the day was pretty normal, but Josh and I had an amazing time a week later in Miami and the Florida Keys.  

I'm grateful for all the love in my life and a special day to celebrate it. I love my parents and sisters and kids and husband and dear friends. It is fun to look back and remember all the ways we have celebrated over the years and I hope to celebrate many more with the people I love.