2 a.m.

At our wedding as we lit the unity candle and took communion for the first time as husband and wife, my friend Chris sang this song. I still can't listen to it without crying. I feel like it catalogues my life so well. Yes, I had curfew at 10 p.m. The lyrics go on to talk about wearing white and vowing forever to what lies ahead, even "kids that scream too much it might seem when it's 2 a.m." That's exactly how my Valentine's started.

I was startled awake around that time to Juliana shouting that she thought Trent was throwing up. Oh he was indeed and when he was done he proceeded to scream, waking up Samantha who without missing a beat started to scream. I literally raised my hands to the heavens and above the symphony of screams shouted "Why??" Praise Him for he is faithful. When we earnestly ask Him a question he will answer. My answer came in the form of perspective today.

I had plans of baking cinnamon rolls this morning with pink icing. Putting heart plates on the table with their Valentine's I had made for them on top. Instead my morning was consumed with stripping a bed, drawing a bath and disinfecting every door knob and handle in our house. By the way, our dryer quit working. As I was grumbling in my spirit, the Lord reminded me that I get to be the one doing this. That set the tone for my whole day.

No, it was not the day I had planned, but it turned out even better. Trent napped the whole time Juliana was at school. Samantha fell asleep nursing and rather then putting her down I just held her. It was pajama day at dance class. I resisted the urge to make Juliana wear the coordinated clean jammies and instead let her choose. She wore a light blue nightgown with red fish all over it and hot pink flower socks. We made the cinnamon rolls only as dessert instead and afterward we all took a bath together. We danced in the kitchen and had lots of hugs, kisses and snuggles.

My point to all of this? I was kind of sad when I woke up this morning (at 2 a.m.). Not only was it Valentine's day and Drake wasn't here, but I now had a sick kid to boot. However, after crying out to the Lord, he was faithful to remind me of a few things. Real romance isn't red roses and chocolate it's my husband who is away because he's working hard to provide for us. Working hard so that I can be the one that's here when our son needs to stay home from school. Working hard so that I can be the one giving the post throw-up bath or baking cinnamon rolls with pink icing, dancing in the kitchen and kissing near invisible owies. This Valentine's day was good. Not ideal, but good. I was reminded that true love and romance does require a little elbow grease because after all most things worth having require some capacity of work.

Like these cookies for instance. We decorated them at Grandma's yesterday, yum!

My sweet bubba getting some rest.

I literally had to set up a barricade so she couldn't get to him. Sister loves to pest.

Rose colored glasses and pink icing on her face. I don't ever want to forget this time.

Better, but still recovering.

And since it is Valentine's Day...I found this on my phone. It's where Drake proposed to me. Despite 2 am wake-up screams calls, I'm so glad I said yes.