Day 45: Single, but not alone...

My Valentine's Day celebrations technically started a week ago when I got this:

A surprise Valentine from one of the consumers at PossAbilities of Southern Minnesota (where I volunteer).  She could have made this valentine for any number of people - her friends in the building, her job coaches, her staff in her group home, her family...anyone, but she chose me.  What's even better, is that it was ready when I walked into the building, so her dedication wasn't prompted by visual stimulation ;)  To say I was honored (and AM honored) was (and is) an understatement.  It touched my heart.  Seriously.  When they say it's all about the little things, they weren't kidding.  I couldn't be happier to own random puzzle pieces gobbed in red paint.  Ha.  Your mess is my work of art...and it's now proudly displayed on my fridge (next to all the other drawings I've gotten from there) and that's where it'll stay (but at some point, I'll really need to get a larger fridge...cuz I'm running out of room).

My Valentine's Day festivities continued with this:

Surprise tulips from my parents in a heart-shaped vase (love it!).  My mom hasn't let a single Valentine's Day go by without sending me flowers AND singing me a very special song.

But this year? My darling sister was the one who sang that song to me first.  Granted...she opted to sing it at 8:00 in the morning on my "Saturday", but it's the thought that counts.  I go to listen to the voicemail...and what do I hear?  A song that we used to sing in elementary school (with that awesome music teacher I told you about before).

"Will you be my V-A-L-E-N-T-I-N-E?
If you would, you'd surely know how happy I would be.
Sugar 'n spice and all things nice that's what you are to me.
So won't you be my V-A-L-E-N-T-I-N-E?"

Stacy, you may not have made 5th grade choir (which still shocks me, because I didn't even know they turned people away) but you made my morning.  It was only made better by the fact that Mom called me to sing the exact same song 5 hours later (when I was slightly more awake - ha).

And when you sprinkle in the fact that I was taken out to brunch today, was the proud recipient of a virtual valentine or two (and plenty of phone calls throughout the day)...AND got to continue my reign as cupid for one more day (I should seriously get a standing ovation for my Valentines...who else can use phrases like 'keep it in your pants' and 'the clap' in their cards? HA!)...Valentine's Day 2011 stacked up to be a pretty special day.

I'm single, but not alone...and this past week was a great reminder of that.

I've never felt this loved...and I just want to say -- if you're reading this...I love you too :)

Even if you didn't get one of my crazy valentines...

...there's always next year...right? :)