What Valentine's Day Means to Me

valentine's card from our 5 year old

Due to an extremely tight budget, last Christmas my husband and I instituted a "no gifts" rule for eachother. I really thought that I would miss getting to open gifts and watch my husband receive something special, but our Christmas was in no way lacking.

Since Valentine's Day is just around the corner, I wanted to share my thoughts on this holiday. I like chocolates just as much as anyone else (and perhaps even more), but I really don't need a specific day to receive them (any day will do just fine). Heartfelt gestures, handmade cards and other signs of affection that cannot be purchased from the store really mean the most to me and let me know that I am loved.

 origami flower my hubby made for me

Although finances have improved this year, we have decided to maintain this "no gifts" policy for Valentine's Day. What I am trying to get at it here is that what started as a budgetary strategy for making it through the holidays has turned into creative challenge to find alternate ways of expressing love for one another. It's funny how a paper flower can mean more to me than the real thing.