12 Days of Valentines

There is no doubt in my mind that Gabe cherishes and adores me. Before he left town yesterday he set up a few surprises for me. Shortly after he left, I found an envelope in the kitchen. Inside the note was titled, "On the 12th day of Valentines, My true love gave to me..... twelve moments of bliss!!" He told me to look in the fridge and find those twelve moments of bliss..... a 12 pack of caffeine free Dr. Pepper! What a treat!!!

Then today I get an email from him telling me to look in the piano bench where I found note number two. Today is the 11th day of Valentines and the envelope was filled with 11 candy hearts. He expressed his heart towards me and I feel loved through and through.

He is such a sweetheart to love me in this way. I enjoy the surprises and gifts - I think gift giving is one of my love languages. But he shows me love in other ways too. He is completely devoted to our family, he works hard to provide for us and protect us. In that way, I feel safe with him. Ladies reading this will understand the deep need to feel safe under the "wings" of our husbands. Gabe also loves me through the way he loves our children. He is by far the best Papa. He has a firm but gentle way of dealing with them when the need arises. He loves them for who they are and lets them know that they are important. And to be honest, that is how he loves me the best. He loves me for who I am, faults and all. He lets me be myself. That is huge for me personally.

So I think I am going to get to look forward to 10 more days of Valentines!!!! What fun! I will update you on all the ways Gabe chooses to surprise me with his love. By the way, our first valentines together (2001 - still dating) he handmade a dozen roses and on each he wrote reasons why he loved me. Let's say it together..... awwwwwwww! Such a sweetheart!

This is what one of the roses said. I still have the roses in a keepsake box under my bed.

And while I am at it, my other favorite Valentines day was right after Isaac was born. I got up that morning to find little heart notes all over the house. They were sweet and funny. He had one taped to the light that said, "You light up my life!" I don't deserve the love he so fully gives me. I am truly blessed to be his wife.