Tuesday, February 14, 2012

I Love You.

Happy Valentine's Day people!

I've already posted on reflections of Valentine's Day Past.  Today is just a day.  It's Valentine's Day.  But hubby works, and we haven't worked out the kid situation yet so we can go on our date.  Still working on it, but until we go, we won't really feel like it's V-Day.  So it's just a day.  The kiddos got on the bus with their bags of valentines with candies stapled to them, and they're having little celebrations at school, but that's about it.  Pretty sad.

But there is something important today.  I believe we should use this day as a day to celebrate love in general.  Tell at least one person today that you love them.  And how sad is it that sometimes that's so difficult to do?  I tell my kids I love them about a hundred times a day.  It falls out of my mouth so easily, and I say it so much that I wonder if they even hear it.  I pray they do.  They say it back to me, too.  And sometimes they even say it first.  Ahhh.  I tell the hubby that I love him so easily.  I even say it to the dog.  And I can say it to my nephews and my niece.  But that's about it.  I don't really say it to anyone else.  But they're not the only people I love.

I love my mom.  She is a firecracker.  She is a great listener.  I can drone on and on about mundane parenting things or household things to her, and she listens to every word, offering insight when she can.  She enjoys many of the same things as me--going out for a bite to eat and a movie.  Shopping.  She really is the best shopping partner ever.  My mom says what she feels without any sort of a filter, which is horrifying sometimes and refreshing other times.  But she is what she is, and I know where I stand with her.  She loves my kids fiercely, and I know when they're with her they are loved and safe.  That is a great feeling.

I love my siblings and their spouses.  And my hubby's siblings, cousins, and spouses.  They are like a built-in network of very close friends, and together we are like a club.  A club of people who have so much in common, but are so different from one another.  And we all hang out comfortably, with lots of laughter and noise.  Being with any of them is one of my favorite things to do.

I love my extended family, particularly my Minnetonka bunch.  You know who you are.  You guys are part of us, and we're not whole without you.  You bring me so much love and laughter, and I feel blessed that we have remained close generation after generation.

I love my friends.  The people who I spend time with (not often enough) because we like to.  Not even because there are family functions or holidays, but just because we enjoy each other's company.  That is a special and necessary relationship.  My old friends are like a web of people out there in cyber-land (thank you, Facebook) that I know are out there, still caring, still keeping up with me.  They are the people that were my safety net during the dark days of my younger life, and my sunshine during the bright days.  My newer friends are my network of moms and wives that I can commiserate with about parenting, school, family, and aging.  They are like a breath of fresh air to me.  I love them all no matter how frequently or infrequently we spend time together.

I love all you readers.  I love even the idea of you, that you are out there, caring enough to take the time out of your day to read my random ramblings.  Caring enough to occasionally send me a note telling me you're reading or that you are thinking about me, and supporting me when I need it.  You're all like an invisible hug to me, and I have grown to appreciate that feeling more and more all the time.  I love having this outlet, and knowing that I am not alone.  Thank you!

And Happy Valentine's Day.  Now go say "I LOVE YOU" to someone.  And not just your pet.

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