MOM'S VALENTINE PARTY

Dear Family,

Valentine's Day is such a tradition in our family. Mostly when the daughters all started to get bigger, we had a party each year. Mom would get a little jewelry piece, everyone would get a large Hallmark valentines card and sometimes I would draw cartoons of each daughter. Over almost 50 years, tradition tended to grow, evolve and expand; now it is a full fledged celebration with no stops.

Mom picks a date when all can come and decorations begin two weeks in advance. There are hundreds of hearts everywhere, the dishes are heart shaped.. everything reminds one of valentine. Even my full mount stuffed lion wears a wreath of hearts, There are trips to the various dollar stores to pick up appropriate valentines things for the grandkids; the large dining room table is covered in red with hearts and flowers.. the entire first floor of the house is one gigantic valentines.

Everyone who can come is invited. Rick and Gemina came up from Los Angleles. Here we see the pretty teenage granddaughters, Madelin H., Rachel, Madeline B. and Natalie H. This time 54 came with about 38 grandkids.

There were stations set up around the house where all the kids did a different craft. They made valentine cards, and some decorated heart shaped cookies with icing and toppings. There were Valentine prizes galor that all received and took home in a heart shaped basket.

And of course there is the obligatory feast. "Can't we just get a ham and crackers?" "Noooo, this is the Valentines party!!!!" So everyone brings a dish that they are famous for; special banana creme pie, breads and rolls, special potatoes and heart shaped cupcakes. Then of course there is the meat part. I smoked six racks of ribs. Doug did ribs in a dutch oven but when Rick and I went over to check on the progress, we ended up eating them at Doug's so he brought pulled pork. There was a ten pound roast beef as well.

There was food and little kids all over the place. After all that there is the gathering for a slightly chaotic Family Night. Mike organized a little Valenties play. Then I had each husband mention why his wife was special. Rick had stepped out so Gemina called him on her Blackberry, put the phone on speaker so we could all hear what Rick had to say. At the very end, I had the wives do the same.

I woke up with this jingle in my mind that morning and jotted a few simple lines for Mom since we seem to be beyond the jewelry stage:


Valentine Day 2009

What can I say
On this Valentines Day
That has not been said before
So many days, so many years
And now so much more

You are a gift from Heaven sent
Have filled our lives with joy, content
For this great blessing I quietly pray
And thank my Maker for that special day
When we first met and I was swept away

May I be worthy evermore
Of your great love and special way
To bless the lives of all each day
This is what I now would say
On this most memorable Valentines Day

Love, Dad