This one’s extremely personal, but if I didn’t want everyone to read it, I wouldn’t be posting it on The Restoration Tour. It’s also getting close to Valentine’s Day and that’s a stressor for some of you, so let me jump in and share some thoughts.
Last year’s Valentine’s Day was pretty over the top by normal standards, but since it was the year of the restoration tour, it was destined to be an all out celebration of romance and love. (For more on that, see the posts “Lucky February 13” and “Lucky February 13, part 2,” dated July 22 and 23, 2011) This year, it will be a lower budget, slimmed down celebration, but love will still be front and center, and the romance will be all about knowing my wife’s heart.
We’ve learned that giving doesn’t just mean buying something, and that gifts don’t always come from stores. They come from really knowing the other person and intentionally doing what would mean the most. That can involve using any of the Five Love Languages (see Gary Chapman’s excellent book for more on that), and it mostly means caring enough to pick up on the little clues and following through on what your true love wants and needs.
If you’re not creative, just go online and search “Valentine’s Day ideas” and you’ll be amazed at how much great stuff you’ll find. Then tailor the ideas that appeal to you according to your level of comfort and what would really mean something to the one you love. Make them personal, make them genuine, and don’t be afraid to have fun.
Below is the text of the “Official Notice” I wrote to Ceecee last year. I got up during the night and left it to look as though it had been slipped under our door. The idea came from the web.* I just wrote my own words.
OFFICIAL NOTICE
You are herby notified of the following action:
In the matter of the marriage of C(full name omitted) and B(full name omitted)
To wit: That by virtue of your indescribable beauty, wonderful spirit and personality, and pure and precious heart, that I (hereinafter referred to as your loving husband) am bound to you in love forever
And whereas you have stolen my heart by the ways you look at me
And whereas you have entrapped my heart with the way you treat me
And whereas you have captured my heart with the words you say to me
And whereas you have entwined my heart with cords of love by your touch
And whereas you have set my heart on fire with your kiss
And whereas you have brought joy to my soul with your smile
And whereas you have fulfilled my longings. satisfied my soul, and made my dreams come true
And whereas you have made me laugh more freely, love more deeply, feel more fully, and be more alive than any person ever could
I hereby serve this official notice upon you that I will love you with all that I am, body, soul, and spirit, from this day forward, and will make it my life’s goal to have the same effect on your heart and soul and life that you have had on mine, and to be the man who will demonstrate the meaning of love to you always.
Subscribed and sworn before you on this 14th day of February, 2011
My commission never expires
Signature omitted
* I think the idea for the official notice came from Michael Webb, but even if it didn’t, his website www.theromantic.com is a great place to get ebooks, sign up for tips via email, and get plenty of great ideas, not only for Valentine’s Day, but for a lifetime of love.
The Restoration Tour 
🙂