With Valentine's Day around the corner, and a contest going on at Choosing Home, I had to share what will be happening in my home on the 14th!  Now, I know that we are called to love one another at all times, and completely understand how some of you (JenIG) choose not to "celebrate" this "hallmark holiday"... however, I have no expections on my husband at all on Valentine's Day, and choose to show him in extra special ways, that I adore him.  There are certainly other times through out the year (SHMILY Times, for example) that I do this as well, so as far as Valentine's Day goes... I guess I don't feel like it's the only day I show my love for him.  I do know however, that there are many who "celebrate" this day with great passion, and I certainly am passionate about my hubby, so I LOVE doing this for him!  With all that being said... here are my plans for Valentine's Day!  (Note: This would also make a wonderful anniversary idea, or just something for fun to do (especially if you're living where it's cold and snowy outside) to bring some "heat" into your marriage!)

Amy's Love List for the 14th:

1. I've begun praying for everything to go well.  We know as stay-at-home moms, how a bad day can take it's toll on us and we're in no mood to greet our husbands the way we should...  My prayer has been like that in SHMILY Time #9.
2. Wake hubby in a way sure to put a smile on his face!  (If the children pose a problem in this area, plan B will be SHMILY Time #7...)
3. Put a card in the toothbrush drawer (the night before) for him to see that morning.  I'm writing on the inside...  "I love you honey.  I'm so glad you love me. Hope you have a wonderful day... I know you will have a wonderful night!"
4. The night before, after the kids are in bed, I'm going to put up red streamers and balloons, along with a red table cloth on the kitchen table.  I'll also have strawberry muffins with "Strawberry Breeze Juice" for breakfast... (already set out for them that morning so I can execute plan #1!).
5. After dad leaves, I'm going to take a permanent red marker and draw a heart on each child's hand and tell them that I want them to remember ever time they look at it, how much I love them, along with a circle on the inside of each palm, telling them to remember how much God loves them, that He sent His only son and that Jesus died for them because He loves them so much (red holes in their hands to remind them).
6. The kids and I will wrap up a package with cookies (chocolate fudge) and hersheys hugs and kisses, S.H.M.I.L.Y. Time #3, and some other red heart candies in it.  Included will be another card that says, "There's more treats later... S.H.M.I.L.Y."  We will then hop in the car and drive the box to Daddy's work and drop the box off infront of the door.
7. (While there, I will also take a "little blessing" (previously put in another card with SHMILY on the envelope) and set that on the front seat of his truck.)
8. Go to the dollar store in town and have them blow up some balloons (I'm thinking about 20) with long ribbons attached.  When we get home, I'll have the kids help me curl the ribbon so it looks festive, and we'll just let the balloons go to the ceiling in our living room (the first place you walk into when you come into our home).
9. Make heart-shaped pizza for my little ones for lunch, and serve it to them on heart paper plates with red pop in matching cups.
10. After dinner, I'll give each child a letter that I've written about how much I love them.  I'll have them all play together and then take one by one and read it with them while cuddling.  For my step-son (who definitely is NOT into cuddling and will probably be at work) I'll leave the note on his computer for him to read when he gets home.
11. While the three and one-year olds are down for naps, the five, seven and nine year old will make cards, help me pick up and get the rest of the house ready for daddy coming home and our special dinner.  (Now I know this sounds crazy, but my husband loves to cook, so I'm actually going to just get the food he needs to make supper, and then have him make a delicious meal.  I know he will love this... seriously... he LOVES to cook (I know, I know... I've told you I was lucky... he irons too, but I'll quit bragging now... a;slfj;asdlf;sladfj).  We have some crab frozen from my birthday still, so I'll finish up that (gladly), and I'll get a steak for Michael... I'll also get fresh green beans (he sautees them in butter, lemon and pepper... mmmmmmmm!), and I'll put the potatoes in the oven ahead of time for baked potatoes.  I'll also take care of dessert, that we'll share with the kids as well.  I'm just keeping it simple with a strawberry cake (instant of course) with strawberry frosting.  I'm baking it in a heart shaped pan and stacking the two cakes... does that count as "special"?  Of course it will say "SHMILY" on it as well!  (I'm going to make sure that the kids eat early (sandwiches cut out with a heart shaped cookie cutter along with Jello jigglers cut out in hearts with strawberry milk) so they can watch a little TV while Mike and I eat.  Then we'll call them up for dessert.) 
12. S.H.M.I.L.Y. Time #15  (with red spray paint, of course).
13. On the front step, my husband will be "greeted" with WERTHERS candies... you know, the ones in the gold foil? (Now you have no idea what's coming, but this will be especially exciting for hubby because I did a similar thing for him years ago, and just the other day he commented on how that was the most memorable thing I ever did for him... see where this is going?
14. Once inside, he will see a trail of "gold" leading into the kitchen (and don't forget the balloons from the ceiling) and on the table (that's been set all romantic-like with candles, red table cloth, red and white plates (I have fiestaware) and possibly some cheap flowers, from the grocery store that day if they have any.  I'll hand him an envelope with CLUE #1 on the outside.  The inside will read...  I've planned a night full of pleasure, so enjoy yourself and you'll find the "treasure".  First, follow the "gold" to the place that's inviting, a toast to an evening that's fun and exciting!  (The toast will be with our sterling silver wedding glasses that I'll have raspberry/cranberry juice with sprite in (a cheaper version of sparkling juice)).
15. After we sit down to eat, I will pray a prayer of thanks for my husband and the Lord sending me such a wonderful man to love. 
16. During dinner I'm going to play a CD of music that I put together ahead of time of music that will be romantic for us.  Some songs will include ones from our wedding, as well as me singing a song for him.
17. After supper, I'll have Mike read CLUE #2... We never knew that our "life of love",  would include so many from above!  I'm so thankful it's where our path has lead, Let's enjoy our blessings, then get them to bed!  Then we'll have the kids come up for dessert and spend some time with them.  The kids can then give dad their cards too. 
18. After the kids are in bed (9:00pm is when the last one goes down... except for the seventeen year old, but hopefully he can occupy himself... tee hee), CLUE #3 will be waiting on the counter in the kitchen (of course, surrounded by more "gold").  The inside will read.. Now imagine yourself slipping away... here you can "wash" your cares away.  So go to the place that's the closest thing to, a deserted island for just me and you!  The "gold" will lead to the garage door (out our kitchen) and through the garage out to our backyard where our hot tub is located.  I'm getting sand from the hardware store and putting it on the ground (on top of the packed snow... I'm in Minnesota) leading to the tub... with the candies on the ground, of course.  I'll also have floating rose candles in there with the "red light" on in the tub (our signal for "love"... tee hee).  I'm also going to borrow a blow up palm tree to set next to the tub.  Note:  Now, when I did this for my husband the first time years ago, I actually did it in our bathroom.  Yes, even with the sand!  We had to use a shop vac to clean it all out and since I took sand from the local beach, it had cigarette butts in and everything... tee hee... my husband said that laying down plastic ahead of time would've made that easier.  I also had a real tropical looking plant at the time.
19. After our island fantasy (tee hee), CLUE #4 will be on the side of the tub with more "gold" saying...  Now go to the room where you most like to be... wither day or night and only with me.  Under the stars you will finally see, the makings for pleasure and the treasure... that's ME! (While hubby is in the bathroom drying off, I'll get the candles lit in the bedroom and put on the gorgeous red silk gown I got on clearance!) 
20. "Gold" will be down our hallway leading into our bedroom.  During the day I will have put up those big glow in the dark stars on our ceiling.  On our bed will be a pile of "gold" candies with a box (decorated to look like a treasure chest) with massage lotion in it (from S.H.M.I.L.Y. Time #11).  I'll then treat my hubby to a wonderful massage, which I'm sure will put him to sleep... hahahahahahahahahaha!  Okay... so I'm lying... but I'm not telling you the rest!  You need to try this for yourself!  I'm thinking of throwing in S.H.M.I.L.Y. Time #1 as well... but it may be "love overload"... tee hee.  We'll have to see...
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22. After the wonderful day and night spent showering my hubby, I will end with pulling out the box of old cards, love letters and poetry that we've saved over the years.  It will be fun to read them and remember our love and how it's grown into more than we ever could have dreamed.  Here's one card I found that I wrote when our first daughter was born... Today I thanked God when I looked at you holding our baby daughter.  I thanked Him for the man He gave to me as my love and my best friend.  I thanked Him for the little lives He's given to us on the earth and for the father they have.  I thanked Him for the man you are becoming as you grow closer to Him.  I thanked Him for your life, and our life together.  I know I have been blesed in so many ways and have so much to thank God for, but today, and everyday, more than anythhing else, I'm so thankful for you, and love you in my life.  Our notes are certainly a testimony to how the Lord's Hand has been over our relationship from the beginning... I'm still so amazed how He's taken two sinners, loved us, forgiven us, and blessed us beyond our wildest dreams.  God is so good, and I thank Him every day (not just on Valentine's Day) for the wonderful man He blessed me with so many years ago.