Valentines Day was AWESOME!

We had such a great Valentines Day this year. All week I have been trying to think of something I could give or do for my husband for Valentines. It has been a rough year for us with him being unemployed all year so we haven't really got to do the kinds of things we normally do for each other for birthdays, Christmas and such. I was feeling kind of bad that I wasn't able to give him much for his birthday or Christmas this past year because everything we could spare we spent on the kids. So this Valentines I wanted to get him something nice since he deserves it. He is always so positive and happy and keeps our family strong and happy even when at times it feels impossible to be happy or thankful. He amazes me with his happy attitude each day. So anyway, I really did not want to go yet another holiday without giving him something. I was talking to my recently new friend the other day and asking her for ideas of what to give him for Valentines. She asked me what kind of things he liked and I was naming off all kinds of interests of his. Among them I told her that he really likes Football. She asked what his favorite team was. I told her that he has really enjoyed college ball the last couple of years even more than the NFL. I said that his favorites were Boise State and The University of Utah. She looked at me and said, "I have the best thing you could give him!" I told her I had very little money to spend and she said, "Don't worry about it." You see, my friend was married for only about a year when she got a divorce. She said that her ex-husband loved Boise State and that she had bought him a Boise State Recliner for him that she now has in her possession and that I could have. I thought, no way this is perfect, he would LOVE it. She told me that it was in her parents house and that her mom has been wanting her to get all her stuff out of their house so she would be happy to get rid of it. She also said she was not attached to it, she just knew how much her ex liked it and she didn't want him to have it so she got the chair in the divorce and he got the flat screen. She said it had bad memories and she didn't mind getting rid of it. I couldn't believe it. How could I get so lucky? I remembered walking through the mall one time with Ron and seeing these recliners and he really wanted one. I thought they were pretty tacky decor for the house being bright orange and blue and told him there was no way we were putting those in our house. (but desperate times call for desperate measures.I just want to make him happy even if it does make my house look like a bachelor pad.) Plus they were $1500 so not even an option anyway. I knew he would absolutely love it and never think in a million years I would get it for him. The rest of the week I was so excited for Sunday to come I could hardly stand it. It was killing me not telling anyone. I didn't want to tell my kids because I couldn't risk them ruining the surprise. I just kept smiling every time I looked at my husband and thought of how much he was going to love his Valentines gift. There was no way I could hide this huge bright beast from him so we worked out a plan to have her deliver it when we were at church. It worked perfectly since the night before Ron was asked to sub in Tyler's class. So he didn't even notice I walked home from church since we weren't going to Sunday school together anyway. He just thought I was in class. I hurried home to meet my friend. Then I set the dinner table and got it all ready for when they came home. We always eat dinner as soon as we get home on Sunday's. We usually always have a roast and mashed potatoes and gravy. It's easy cuz I have it cooking in the crock pot when we are at church. So since my family loves this Sunday meal I decided to keep it the same. They are usually disappointed when I change it up on Sundays. They like stability and count on it each week. So same meal, I just set the table different for Valentines.

As soon as they walked in the door, dinner was ready which they loved. I made them each a "Love Note" the night before and set them on their plates. My mom used to do this for us kids growing up on Valentines she would right us a love letter. I always felt so special so I have carried this tradition on to my kids to let them each know specifically some of the reasons why I love them. It was so much fun watching their faces light up. They kept hugging me all day and telling me how much they loved me. They all got along beautifully the whole day and their was a lot of nice gestures shown the rest of the day. It was AWESOME! I was so excited to give Ron his present waiting in the living room. No one even suspected a thing they were too busy eating.

Dinner couldn't go fast enough for me but I waited patiently smiling at Ron. He was telling me how great his lesson was in Tyler's class and they both agreed it has been a great Valentines Day. I said, "It's going to get a whole lot better!" They just looked at me like I was weird. When the last bite was taken I squealed in excitement I couldn't hold it in any longer! My family thought I was nuts and had no idea why I was so happy. Ron wasn't expecting anything. He thought the dinner was a Valentines surprise since usually they have to wait a few minutes for me to mash the potatoes and make the gravy. Then they usually set the table. Everyone is usually starving by then and about to famish from hunger. Today they didn't have to do anything but sit down and eat. So I said, "Are you ready for your Valentines present?" And he said "Yes" matching my smile and enthusiasm. So I took them all into the living room and he was like, what the heck is that? He thought I brought the recliner out of our bedroom and put something on it and covered it up. He was definitely not expecting this...

He was in shock. He had no idea how I did this since he knew I wouldn't spend $1500 on this right now, or ever for that matter. It was priceless. My boys were just as excited. I loved it!

Everyone had to try out the new chair. Austin unknowingly even matched the chair.

It was a great Valentines Day. One of the best for sure!

So we spent the rest of the day on the chair watching the Olympics and just enjoying each other. It was almost like an idol it got so much attention. Then later that night we made Valentine Funnel Cakes for a treat. It was the best day I had had in a long time.

I am so thankful for my family and my friend who made my day, maybe even my year. I don't think she can possibly understand what that meant to me. I really feel it a blessing and that Heavenly Father gives us these happy little moments in the midst of our trials to let us know and feel his love for us. I know it sounds silly but I really feel it a blessing and the people who come into our lives at the times we need them. HAPPY VALENTINES DAY EVERYONE!