My First Valentine

This post is dedicated to my first Valentine, my Dad.  For the past thirty years, without fail, my dad has always considered my sister and I his Valentines. When I was a little girl, there was always a card and a small candy heart waiting on the kitchen table on Valentine's Day morning for each of us. My mom would always get an elaborate, romantic card with a large candy heart. He would usually leave a little present, too. One year, I got a beautiful bracelet. 

The thing is, my Dad didn't need to do all of those sweet things for us girls. He wanted to. Little did I know that thirty years later, I can finally realize why he did it. My dad is a man who knows how to treat a lady and put his family first. It wasn't the actual card or the candy that was important, but it was his way of showing my sister and I that if a man loves you, he'll let you know. 

I'll never forget those Valentine's Day mornings, when my mom would open her card and have tears in her eyes, sometimes running down her face, because of the beautiful words that were written in the card. My dad has this awesome talent for choosing cards that have a beautiful message.  My dad loves my mom...a whole lot. It's really an incredible thing to see two people care for each other after thirty-something years of marriage.

I guess my future husband can blame my father for showing me what true love is. 

Today, I had a snow day. I decided to take a trip to the mailbox. Turned the key, opened the door and there it was. Dad's Valentine. Took the elevator back upstairs and studied my dad's handwriting on the envelope on my way back up. Came back inside, ripped open the envelope, and read the card. My dad's message was all about how proud of me he is, and how much he loves me. It's amazing how when words are written, they mean so much. 

Even though the years go by, I'll never lose the memories of Valentine's day as a little girl. And my Dad will always be my first Valentine. I'm a lucky girl.

I love you, Dad!