Tomorrow will be my 8th Valentine’s Day with you, and in my estimation, the best one yet. Six years ago, I know I thought the same when you called from thousands of miles away–I can still remember where I stood for those significant (and expensive) minutes. I could tell you just how dark the sky was overhead, how much I missed home, missed you. Then surely, five years ago, just 38 days before we tied the knot. Four years ago…in Africa. There are others in our history, too, all made significant by your creativity and intention (you have always been remarkably good at acknowledging noteworthy days). But this one–this one I’m certain will top them all, and it isn’t for any number of chocolates or flowers or romantic cards (although the flowers today were perfect, and perfectly grand :).

I love that tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, not because of the undue pressure it adds to couples and non-couples alike, but because it gives us an excuse to love extravagantly. And we could do this every day of the year (just like I could write this post to you any day of the year), but it might get a little cost prohibitive and silly after awhile, you know? What I mean by that is this: it’s nice to have an entirely acceptable reason to do something a bit special–or to embarrass gently, out of love. You know, the way we have lunch plans tomorrow, on an otherwise random Tuesday, and the way that I’m babbling on, in essence just trying to state publicly how much I love you, in a blog post.

Here’s the thing of it. We’ve weathered a lot. We’ve traveled the globe, created a home in four places, tackled challenging home projects (that’s a big deal;), had a BABY(we’re parents!), made time for others, made time for ourselves, made time for each other, made room for God, made room for change. We’ve admitted the hard things, done the hard things, become stronger because of them and in spite of them, learned lessons, grown determined and rolled to the middle. We are eight and a half years into being us, and we have so much to be thankful for together.

When it comes to celebrating love, I think we have a pretty incredible reason to partake in the whole Valentine’s Day extravaganza tomorrow. We get better at this every year. I like that about us.

love you, jmk. or in other words…i heart you. xoxo. be mine. happy valentine’s…

mm