love is all you need.

Love ... is selfless

Love ... is staying awake countless nights to comfort a sick spouse

Love ... is running to the drug store 5 nights in a row trying to find something (anything) to to help make the pain go away

Love ... is seeing beauty beyond a sick, (un)showered, very pregnant wife ... and actually making me believe he see's that beauty

Love ... is calmly reassuring mama over and over that being sick and 36 weeks pregnant will not last forever

Love ... is finding ways to leave a busy work day to help mama with lunch and nap time

Love ... is hours of head rubbing because it's the only thing that truly makes the pain go away

Love ... is never showing frustration with a seemingly never-ending sick mama...going on 2 weeks

Love ... is coming up with constant diversions to distract that same sick mama

Love ... is frequent phone calls throughout the day with reassurances things will be OK and daddy will be home sooner than later

Love ... is doing all of this while feeling sick himself, but not making that a concern

Love ... is two baby girls sleeping until 7:30am ... consistently letting mama get those extra hours of rest during a very long 2 weeks

Love ... is those same baby girls greeting each other with a big "good morning sister" ... making the day seem completely worth starting

Love ... is constant snuggles, hugs and "mooches" from two girls who know mama is not herself right now

Love ... is watching my girls constant concern and care for each other helping me feel like they know the meaning of love

Love ... is opening the door almost every day to amazing Valentines Day packages -- PACKED with love, care and concern

Love ... is feeling prayers from thousands of miles away

Love ... is spending the day with my girls making dinner and treats and cards for daddy

Love ... is sharing a meal together at home ... forgoing the idealism of valentines day for the real thing

Love ... is selfless ... and it's on this day we are reminded.  We are reminded that "life" does not always seem selfless, but in the midst of that -- we can still feel love when surrounded by people who are genuine and do things expecting nothing in return.

In some seasons of life ... valentines day may include fancy dinners on the town, pretty dresses and high heels, flowers and chocolate - or even a surprise get-a-way ... but in MOST seasons, for MOST people ... it's a day to be thankful for genuine love.  Thankful for a good day, surrounded by caring people who are selfless in their act of love and kindness.

I have so much of this kind of love in my life -- and I hope you do, too .. because it's the best kind of all.

Happy valentines day to all my loved ones -- near and far.

With love,
Cuz I'm the mama!