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Fill your Valentine’s Day with deeds and words that will fill the hearts of your loved ones.
Valentine’s Day is a fun opportunity to show your family and friends you love them. You do it every day, but you can do it with extra care on this special day. They’ll love you right back for it, and you’ll make memories they can carry in their hearts forever.
These are the moments that help them through the ups and downs of life. We suggest you try some of these suggestions. Do the first one, then choose from the rest, or come up with some ideas on your own.
1. Kiss your spouse with passion, first thing
Start this romance-filled day by saying, “I love you,” followed by kisses and hugs that remind you of how much you mean to each other. Let it linger a bit, then jump out of bed and do more of this list.
2. Wake up kids (or friends) with a love song
Send a social video of yourself or just dial their number and start singing. It doesn’t have to be good, just full of conviction.
A good one is “Have I Told You Lately That I Love You?” To refresh your memory, here’s Rod Stewart’s version. Or, choose whatever your favorite is. Be dramatic and have fun with it. Make your kids or friends roll their eyeballs. They’ll love it, even if they don’t act like it. That’s a promise.
3. Make heart-shaped pancakes for breakfast
Serve up some baked love with syrup, whipping cream, peanut butter, fresh fruit and whatever else you and your family love to slather on. Make it memorable. Really yummy food has a way of doing that. Here are some fun ideas from Pinterest.
4. Put a love note into your loved one’s lunch box or pocket
Make sure it’s where you know they’ll find it. If the kids eat hot lunch, stick it on the cover of their math book. Just be sure it’s some place you know they’ll see it. For spouse, you might put it in his or her pocket— the one they put their keys in. This note will put a smile on their faces and a warm feeling in their hearts.
5. Ask family members for Valentine dinner ideas
Let dinner have at least one thing in it that every person loves. Have family members choose out of a hat a category, such as appetizer, salad, main dish, veggie, or dessert. Have them let you know what their wish is for that category. Do this a couple of days in advance so you can be ready with the ingredients. Then let that person help prepare his or her item. Don’t expect perfection. Just have fun.
Let them know that everyone has to eat at least some of each item, and compliment the cook in some way about their item. After all, this is a day to express a little love and appreciation.
6. Gather around the phone, tablet, or computer and call grandparents
Expressing love on this day to grandparents can brighten their day. They will love hearing voices and/or seeing faces of each family member. It might not be a day they’ve been in the habit of celebrating, but connecting with loved ones and letting them know how much you care is what it’s all about.
7. Heart attack an elderly neighbor or your pastor, or both
You and your family can cut hearts of various sizes out of red or pink construction paper. Write a short message on some of them. For example, “We’re glad you’re our neighbor.” Or, “Your smile makes us smile.” Or, to your pastor, “Thanks for caring about us.” Or, “Thanks for reminding us to be good.”
Tape these hearts all over their front door. They will love being loved by you.
8. Give a special Valentine to your kids’ principal—from them and you
Kids usually give their teachers a Valentine, and you have likely taken the opportunity to thank them in different ways. That’s a good thing. Keep it going at Valentine’s Day, but this time include their principal.
A principal’s job is important and challenging. They often work without notice or appreciation. This is a good day to acknowledge her or his efforts to make your kids’ school run smoothly. Thank this VIP with a Valentine and a heart-felt expression of gratitude.
9. Take some heart-shaped cookies to a homeless shelter
Bringing some love to those who have so little can enlarge the hearts of your whole family. So many people work with shelters during November and December, but February can often get missed. Those receiving your gift will be happy that someone remembered them.
If the facility allows it, arrange to have you and your family pass them out and personally wish the recipients a Happy Valentine’s Day. Seeing these folks may help everyone appreciate what they have and, at the same time, feel the joy of bringing a little happiness to someone less fortunate.
10. Give a Valentine that Makes Them Smile and Shows Them How Love Can Change Us All
This little gift of love isn’t large in size, but it’s big in meaning every time it touches sunlight. It’s a color-changing ring, bracelet, necklace, key chain, or bottle of nail polish by Del Sol. Each of these items changes color with sunlight. It’s symbolic – when you bring sunlight (love, care, friendship) to others, it brightens, enlivens, and changes their life. It adds fun, joy, smiles and memories with the tiniest ray of sunshine. Every time they see this Del Sol item, they’ll be reminded to be a ray of sunlight for others.
The point of this whole day is to fill your home and family with feelings of love for each other and for others who need a little love. A little love can be a big thing in today’s world.
Editor’s note: This article was originally written by Gary and Joy Lundberg. It has been republished here with permission by the Family Share Network.