Now when I write to you from my green chair, I am sitting by the light of a cheerful little Valentine's Tree!
I used my daughter's pink Christmas tree and covered it with love themed Christmas ornaments, cookie cutters, and a few Valentine's ornaments I found.
This monogrammed ornament was actually made for me by a woman in our church in Maryland out of one of our wedding napkins!! She has been making these as gifts for years - she even made one for my parents almost 38 years ago!! Thank you, Dorine!
As I do each season, I rearranged items I already had out and pulled out a few seasonal decorations to add a sense of season and spirit of cheer and celebration to our home.
I left the simple berry tree in our entryway to keep a romantic, welcoming glow through these winter months.
Special cookbooks are out and festive aprons are hung. I have my eye on an absolutely adorable mother/daughter set of aprons at one of my favorite shops. If I am able to purchase them this season, I will be sure to show you! The Valentine's season is a fun one for fondue, chocolate dipped strawberries, cupcakes, sweet treats, and pancakes, waffles, and cookies shaped liked hearts!
I want my children to grow up knowing that love is at the center of their home life.
This picture is of my parents back in 1972. They were engaged, and saying farewell as my dad was deployed to Japan for Navy duties. While he was there, they wrote six days a week, only taking Sundays off. My dad says those letters were filled with mushy, embarrassing stuff! When he finished his duties and came back, they were married in April of 1973. They will celebrate 38 years of marriage this year, and have truly lived out their vows to love one another in sickness and health, for better or worse, for richer or poorer. My husband and I look to them as great examples of marriage and family and keeping a covenant. I have always loved this picture capturing their young love.
What better time to use these Love-U-Grams (lunch notes, coupons, and postcards) that I have been saving since my mom gave them to me when Madi was a baby?! Little expressions of love go a long way, don't they?!
I hope this Valentine's Season finds you creating an atmosphere of love in your home for your family, and for those loved ones in your life. If we intentionally use holidays to spark our creativity and expressions of love, I believe our families and loved ones will reap the benefit and see Jesus in us! Let's love lavishly!
I John 3:18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
Your napkin ornaments from Dorinne reminded me think of mine. In the midst of a major cleanup in my basement, I came across a box of wedding keepsakes, and found the ones she made us. I now have them adorning a little tree in our kitchen! Thanks for the reminder!! :-)
ReplyDelete