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Last year I posted this idea from Better Homes and Gardens, and then tried it at home. Here’s how to do it:
~ Buy the extra large chocolate bars
~ Wrap them in colorful Valentine’s scrapbooking paper. Garnish with stickers and ribbon.
~ Give to loved ones and friends (I gave some to a few of my girlfriends!)
This is what I decorated our Valentines dinner table with:
Happy Valentine’s Day!
I was visiting with a friend who shared a nugget of wisdom I don’t want to forget. We were discussing teaching our kids about God, and how, instead of focusing on obedience (rules, what pleases God, how we show him love), we should first focus on the character of God and his outpouring of love toward us.
He loves us, he cares for us. and he initiates a relationship with us. And it is from this understanding of God’s kindness toward us that we want to obey him with our decisions. When those two get reversed, it becomes legalism. I’m afraid I’ve been guilty of teaching scripture to my children that points to what they can do for Him–serve, love, share, tell the truth, which are all great acts, but can’t be forced upon a growing heart for God (well they can, but the act will be not be a true expression of love back to God). Sincere acts of obedience come from a heart that truly wants to give back to God because the heart understands how loved it is.
The nugget in this for me is how I will shift the order in teaching my children about God from obedience and character to character and obedience. This way of thinking also applies to myself and my obedience to God, and to everyone I share God with.
Here is an excerpt from a lesson I found today that expresses God’s character towards us. It is from a Focus On The Family email publication of “Thriving Family” (link below)
By Kurt Bruner
God is love: It is true that God does loving things. But the more important truth is that God is love (1 John 4:8). God can’t help loving because it is an essential part of His character.
God cares: We can cast our anxiety on God because He cares (1 Peter 5:7). Like a spouse’s hug when we’re stressed or a parent’s hug when we’re worried, God’s love comforts and reassures us because we know that He cares about each troubling detail of our lives. God gives himself: Jesus said that the greatest love is when someone lays down his life for another (John 15:13). That is precisely what God did when He became man to rescue us from death.
God initiates: Our Father God takes the initiative in loving us rather than waiting for us to show love to Him. The Bible describes this love: “Not that we loved God, but that he loved us” (1 John 4:10), and “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
What wonderful things for our hearts to grasp, and for us to pass on to others. (Especially around Valentine’s Day)
Go to www.thrivingfamily.com for great resources on marriage, parenting, finances, and much more.
Blessings,
Amy
Written By Jen
Here are some fabulous ideas for Valentine’s 2012. I would like to spend Valentine’s day at the Lincoln Center with my hubby, sounds perfect to me. I would like to unwind enjoying an opera at the Met followed by an amazing dinner at Rosa Mexicano. Mmmm. Day dreaming….. Happy Valentine’s Day to you friends!
The light is amazing through these crayon hearts from Martha Stewart Living.
This looks like a yummy after school snack! Valentine's heart fruit kabobs.
Tic Tac Toe! Play with me! from AlphaMom
Here is a love letter that will last!
If peanut butter cookies don't say love, what does? From Confessions of a Cookbook Queen.
Chocolate dipped rice krispie hearts! YUMMY!
Creative Love.
Spread cool whip on a tray and let sit in freezer. Use cookie cutters and place in hot chocolate 🙂 (from dondalees)
Water color hearts. This is easy, fun and beautiful!
Lovely wreath! XO! from twoinspireyou on etsy.
I consulted my friend, the Better Homes and Gardens website, for these great ideas. After sifting through many, I pulled out the ones that I would tackle myself (which means the bar is not high) but still would be lovely and valentiney and just plain cool. Please visit their website for more ideas.
WRAPPED IN LOVE
These candy bars look delicious and delightful to give and receive. After unwrapping the original wrap, cover the candy with some Valentine’s wrapping paper or scrapbooking paper, and ribbon. Then give to those you love! EASY!
VALENTINE YOUR CANDLES
Instructions:
1. Cut strips of different pink patterned papers and adhere them to same-size strips of white card stock.
2. Die-cut, punch, or freehand-cut two sizes of hearts from the patterned papers. Poke tiny holes in some of the hearts to allow wire to be threaded through them.
3. Join the hearts by running wire through the holes and also by wrapping the wire around the hearts, measuring the candle circumference as you go. If you wish, slide beads onto the wire as you twist and bend it into curls and loops.
FRAMED VALENTINE ART
This is my personal favorite. I think this is completely “do-able” and I like to lean seasonal art like this on shelves, or replace my regular frames with these for the month. For those of you on a budget, Walmart has nice white wood frames, and fabric too. To make this, buy fabric or scrapbook paper in the Valentine’s pattern of your choice. Then cut out shapes using a stencil or freehand and glue to white cardstock. Once they are glued on and behind glass they look professional and adorable.
A clever card. Attach a square of notebook paper to the middle of a square card. Cut the words “you’re” and “hot” from a magazine or newspaper page and glue to a circle punched from white paper; attach to the notebook paper. Place eight or nine hot cinnamon candy pieces on the notebook paper square and lay a thin plastic sheet over the top, using red embroidery thread to attach it to the card and hold in the candy.
FRAMED LOVE QUOTE DECORATION
More easy Valentine’s art! I love the power of words, so you could do a WORDLE www.wordle.com or buy stencils at Hobby Lobby and write your own words of love. The words above are cut from white cardstock and glued on black cardstock.
LABELS AND GIFT TAGS
Written By Jen
Let us not be satisfied with just giving money. Money is not enough, money can be got, but they need your hearts to love them. So, spread your love everywhere you go.
Mother Teresa
