A Valentines To Remember

I am always in the valentines mood on Feburary 14th, especially this year. Working in a restaurant means that I get to hear about everyone's plans for the special day and see all the girls get flowers from their sweetheart. *Sigh* There are no flowers for me this year, but I won't complain. Maybe next year . . .

Tuesday I went to Family Dollar to find some "goodies" for my parents and siblings. I was disapointed with thier selection, but did find a few heart shaped suckers, MnMs . . . and Reses Eggs! (We love those things! It was the first time I saw them out this year, so I had to buy some! I thought it would add some humor to the day as well . . . Easter on Valentines Day! I'm glad we've never been bound to the worlds traditions.)

Wednesday I ventured through The Dollar General to see if they had anything to add to the gifts. I finally found everything I needed. That night I printed up simple Valentine cards to fit their personalities and put everything together. (It was so much fun buying for others! I can't wait to do this for my own children!) Then, while everyone was asleep, I placed thier gifts in places where they would find them as soon as they woke up on Valentines morning. They all liked their gifts.

Today when I got home from work, I'll have to admit, I was expecting something from mama and daddy. Every year they give us a little something ranging from a Hershy's Kiss about the size of a base ball to little bags of candy. After we ate supper I went to my room expecting to find something sitting on my desk or laying on my bed. But there was nothing there. Trying not to let the others see that I was looking for something, I casually scanned the house. Maybe they put it on the piano? I wonder if they are going to see how long it will be until I ask about it? Finally I asked Bethany if she had gotten anything. This probably sounds so selfish, but I had thought about it all day and had set my heart on getting a little something! I also suspected that my little sister Amy had something to do with it since she had a secret for quite a few days.

Finally Amy told us. Being the littlest of us all, she loved being the only kid who knew about the surpize. She told us (in a grown up way) that the dishes had to be clean, the fire wood put on the back poarch, and everyone showered up before we could have our surprize. After all that was done, we had to go to our rooms while mama and Amy got the surprize ready.

Minutes late we came out to a candle-lit table adorned with hearts and a red table cloth over lapped by lace. The dinning room was arrayed with streamers and hearts all around. The air smelled of roses and music drifted in from the joining room. We were served cookies and red cool-aid along with personal bags of candy for us to keep.

After we ate a few cookies, the games began! Mama had hidden 18 paper hearts in several of the rooms for us to find. The person who found the most would win a bag of heart candies. When she said "Go!" we all ran to find the tokens! They were under the printer, behind the candles, in the microwave, and everyother place imaginable. In the end, Bethany found the most with me close behind in second place.

Next we played Heart Bingo. Insdead of spelling out b-i-n-g-o, we spelt h-e-a-r-t. Phillip was the winner of that game, and glad about that too!

To top the night off, we all sat around in the living room and watched a movie. It was the best Valentines Party ever! It will be nice one day to be able to receive gifts from my one true love, and give him presents of love in return, but I believe this is just as much fun!