Does anyone else remember LIVING for Valentine’s Day back to grade school?

Always the party planner, I counted down to the Valentine Party like there was no tomorrow.

I loved making our Valentine mailboxes every year out of shoe boxes, wrapped in blue construction paper with US MAIL carefully drawn in back crayon on the front. It was a true replica of the one on the corner, outside the classroom window.

I would work tirelessly handmaking my Valentine’s with my mom – who would sit with my and show me how to layer red and white heart doilies in every size ontop eachother with Elmer’s Glue.

She is the ultimate handmade hostess – and when we had made one for each student, and handwritten to and from carefully ontop, she would gently help me glue a red foil wrapped chocolate heart smack dab in the center.

My heart practically jumped out of my chest walking to school each Valentine’s Day. I was so proud of the handmade treats Mom and I made together – little by little each day – working side by side to create something thoughtful, personal, and from the heart.

I loved the tradition she created, for us to share together once a year, cozied up inside around the dining room table.

The last few weeks my kids and I have been creating, crafting, handwriting each classmate name ontop cards and candies. It leaves me speechless to witness the circle of life, as I am now sharing her childhood traditions with a new generation of children and family.

This morning my kids were bouncing out of their beds – springing to the kitchen to pack Valentines in backpacks – wrapping up cupcakes to share with their classes – decorating special lunchbags for their teacher treats.

All day long I thought of their happy faces and eyes lit up and ready to run all the way down the block to school.

I was beyond excited – like a kid all over again – for them to come home and pour their Valentines all over the table.

And here they are – straight from first grade fingers – that worked and cut and drew and pasted and toiled to make self portraits, layered hearts, drawings, pencil toppers, and more.

Its a small reminder of how everything that we do – no large or small – comes back full circle into our lives again – even if takes until the next generation.

Better run – folding paper airplane Valentines await.

-Debi Lilly
Debi Lilly, aperfectevent.com