The Valentine Hunt

By:  Donna Martin

I had spent about 30 minutes looking for just the right Valentine card when I remembered what Mike and I had done a few years ago on Valentine’s Day.  I smiled to myself remembering the fun and laughter we had shared and left the store empty-handed.  It was Valentine’s Day and we were running errands.  One of our stops was the local superstore.  I had slipped away from Mike and was looking for a last minute Valentine when I felt him looking over my shoulder.  “Hey, honey,” I smiled.  “This one is especially for you.”  I handed him the card and as he read it, I picked up another one that I had been considering.  When he finished reading the first card, I handed him a second one, “And here’s another one, “I smiled.

He thanked me, gave me a hug and said, “Come here, I want to show you something.”  We walked over to the linens and he pointed to a stack of towels.  “I found something for you,” he said with a mischievous twinkle in his eye.  Sticking out from the stack of towels was a Valentine card he had found just for me.  I laughed and read the card.  When I finished reading Mike said, “Let’s look over here.”  We strolled through the store to the appliances and sticking out under a toaster was another card.  “Just for you,” he smiled.   Our Valentine hunt continued through the store.  It was one of the best times we have had “exchanging” cards, and we had not spent a dime.  (We did return all of the cards to their correct place in the card section when we finished.)

Sweet memories are priceless.  I don’t really remember all of the Valentine cards I have received, but I will remember the fun we had that day.  Have you planned something special for your spouse for Valentine’s Day?  Be sure you do.  Don’t miss the opportunity to make sweet memories and express your love.  Even if your relationship is strained, planning something romantic for your spouse is one way to ease the tension between you.

I heard a survey the other day on the radio.  It was revealing 5 things that men wish their wives would do.  I only remember this one.  Men wish their wives would plan date nights once in a while.  I know I am guilty of depending on Mike to plan all of our dates or romantic celebrations.  That survey reminded me that I should take more of an initiative to plan special times for the two of us and not just leave it all up to him.  Maybe I’ll just be the one to plan our Valentine date this year.  Won’t he be surprised!

The Martins currently present “Happy Together” Marriage Enrichment Events for churches and organizations.  To schedule an event call Michael at 940-735-1515. They are certified “Prepare/Enrich” Facilitators and are available to work with couples on an individual basis using the “Prepare/Enrich Assessment.”  They publish a weekly “Happy Together” Blog about family and marriage issues.  You can order copies of their new books Dancing With Death and 366 Tidbits We Have Learned in 14,610 Days of Marriage, read, and subscribe to their “Happy Together” Blog by logging onto the Martin’s website at www.happytogethermarriages.com.