a valentine's day post

My whole life long I have detested Valentine's Day. I find it foul that everyone tries to make everyone else feel "special" and "loved" one time during the year, while everyone else is trying to do the same thing. And this is done through getting stupid cards, or flowers, or disgusting boxes of candy that cost $7.00 at the Walgreens that someone was driving by on the way home, when they suddenly remembered that they needed to get something for their "sweetheart".

Plus the memories of those high school girls carrying around stupid balloons and giant teddy bears from class to class doesn't help. Don't they know that they look completely ridiculous?

But despite the fact that I am disgusted by this "holiday", I can't help but feel the tiniest happy spark inside me as Febuary 14th comes up. Because as much as I hate how much the word "love" is thrown around this time of year, I equally and additionally adore the fact that I have found it in my life. Honestly and truly, I can say that I am completely in love with Jeff. He is the best person I know. I feel excited every time I look at him and realize that he is mine for ever and ever. How was I ever lucky enough to find such an amazing guy, and have him feel the same way about me?

I recently found some old pictures that were taken during our "engagement photo session" and thought that I would use some of them to explain a few reasons why I am the luckiest girl around. After all, it's nearing Valentine's Day, which means I have a valid excuse for being a little bit sappy.

First and foremost, I love Jeff because we laugh together. This was one of the things that first interested me in this handsome hunk of a man. In choir we used to sit together and crack jokes constantly to keep ourselves entertained. We wrote notes to each other on my choir folder, trying to get the other person to laugh out loud at inappropriate times.

And ever since that time, we have always been able to laugh together. Jeff is hilarious, and I can always count on him to make me feel better, or ease a tense situation with a clever joke. We both like the same funny things (Seinfield, 30 Rock, horribly made old movies) and love to make inside jokes to each other. I am really glad that Jeff likes to laugh as much as I do.

I love Jeff because he's got my back. Corny, but true. Jeff is an incredibly loyal person, who I have always been able to trust. I know that Jeff loves me, and that he always thinks about how I feel. Not once in the 8 years that I have known him has he ever betrayed my confidence, or made me question my faith in him. I have never known him to say a bad thing about me, or for that matter, think a bad thing about me. Despite my many faults and shortcomings (and believe me, I have many) Jeff loves me for who I am, and thinks I am pretty wonderful. And I love him for that.


I love Jeff because we always make the exact same facial expressions in pictures! The first picture we ever took together (sorry, I don't have it; that was in the era before digitalness) was at a spaghetti dinner for choir. My mom took it of us as we were standing, talking to some friends, and once we developed the film (yeah, it was in the film developing days) I just had to laugh because we were making the same exact face! We were both looking down, to the side, with our mouths slightly open, smiling as we talked.

Don't even try to tell me that we weren't destined to be together.

I love Jeff because he likes me. Do you know what Jeff said when he saw this silly, and, I must say, not extremely attractive picture of me?

Jeff: "Haha look at my face! That is 100% pure adoration right there. I was so in love with you."

Me: "Why the heck were you? Look at my face!"

But apparently it is true. He really does love me, and I can tell it every day when he looks at me. Like for instance when I come home from work and walk into the room where he is, his face always breaks out into a radiant smile that makes me feel so warm and loved.

I'll never know how I got so lucky.


I love Jeff because he pretends to be serious and bossy, but never could be. Just look at that face...he is trying so hard to convince me that he is serious about something, but I can tell that he is right on the edge of breaking out in laughter.

But something I really like about this quality of Jeff's, is that he is never demanding or dominating. Jeff has always considered my feelings, and has never tried to force me to do anything I didn't want to do. I feel like we are equal partners, both of us listening to and looking out for the other person's needs. We respect each other.

I have always wanted to be taller, but when I am around Jeff I feel just right. I love how my head fits right into the crook of his neck.

I love Jeff because of his style. I mean, who else could pull off this Huck Finn look, while still remaining completely sexy?

Okay, in all seriousness, I am very attracted to Jeff, and his style. Granted, I must admit that I created a lot of Jeff's style, and forced him to change a lot. I hope he doesn't resent me too much...and I don't think he does. Mostly because he realizes how dang sexy he looks all the time, since he met me. :)

All in all, I really and truly do love Jeff. I love everything about him, and our life together. We don't always have perfectly happy times, but I must admit that those not so great times are few and far between.

I know that I am not perfect, and I don't think that he is either; but I do think that we are perfect for each other.

"Now tell me is it wrong to think that I can't be happy without you?
What am I without you?
And the more I see you,
the more I need you,
the more I can't be without you.
Do you feel, the same butterflies?
As I'm looking into your eyes now,
take my hand now,
let's go write our names in the sand now,
this will be a sign between you and me... we'll never have to say goodbye."

-from Jeff's song that he wrote for me. Yes, ladies, when we were dating, he wrote a song for me.

Be jealous.

Sappy enough for a suitable Valentine's Day post? I think so.