Valentine's Day

The word freezing does not even begin to describe how cold it is here right now in Colorado Springs. I look back and laugh at the many days I complained while living in Oregon when it was 35 degree's outside and I wheeled up to the gas pump to have my gas pumped by the attendant, and my only exposure to the elements was handing my debit card out the window. Today I eat my words...... I just pumped my gas in negative 38 degree weather (that is including the wind chill factor). Oh I miss Oregon today. So what does one do on a sub zero day after work while Isla is napping? I have a long list of things that "need" to get done, but today I craft. I am in the process of making handmade valentine's cards. Something about rubber stamps, card stock, and over priced stickers brings therapy to me in a time of stress. Which stress for now I will only elude to me becoming a married single mom, no not a Jerry Springer show, but what I am calling my time at home when with Isla, Leo, and Dee while the military calls Joey to leave for awhile.

So back to the topic at hand Valentine's Day. Valentine's Day is actually one of my favorite holiday's of the year. Now if you would have asked me during my middle/high school days I probably would have gone running for the hills at what I use to refer to as "Single Awareness Day" as in if I wasn't already aware that I was without a boyfriend in my life, let's devote an entire day of carnation dedications, chocolate, cards, and random couples surrounding me. I think one of my best valentine's day memories of all time during "those" years was when one of my best friends gave me a bag of Sweetheart candies and picked all the orange one's out ( I only like the orange) for me for our "friend-iversary" we met the year before standing again the wall together at a school dance while all the random couples paired off. Somewhere between picking out cute valentine's day cards and the perfect Sweetheart candy that expressed your true feelings not mixed messages, because you know one wrong "I Love You" candy could give the boy of your dreams in the 4th grade totally the wrong impression and change your life forever and enduring what felt like a million single Valentine's day dances, I have come to love this holiday.

So here I sit stamping card stock, placing stickers, and writing in perfect cursive (so I don't feel like all of 3-6th grade was a total waste on learning how to write cursive) all of Isla's valentine's day cards. I think as a mom it is so easy to get caught up in all the mom competitions around you and sometimes question your own abilities. I sometimes feel like I hear commentary of other mom's when I pull out Isla's snack at the playground when I swear I hear "I see your goldfish crackers, and raise you goldfish 100% whole grain and organic apple juice". You think I am crazy, but trust me there are many super mom's out there. So I sit here stamping away hoping that although Isla may eat chocolate from time to time or eat the occasional Chick-fil-a meal she will overlook my parenting short comings and know I always made time to make sure all of her holiday's were special for her.

As Valentine's day 2011 is almost here I am thankful for the two love's of my life Joey and Isla, and look at the bigger picture of not only love, but all of the wonder caring people in my life as well :)

Much Love!