It’s not just another day in my house. I love Valentine’s Day. About the only way I can get my husband to be romantic is for the calendar to tell him that he should. He used to be a romantic man. That changed sometime after we got married.

But I digress. We are weaning Hannah off the medication she has been on for a couple of years. One of the side effects is that she has bad dreams from detoxing off the medication. These will go away in a few days, but she climbed in our bed about 7:00 this morning. She curled up next to me and wished me a Happy Thanksgiving. When I reminded her that it was not Thanksgiving, she quickly corrected herself and wished me a Happy Valentine’s Day.

To hear this from her is such an amazing thing. This is a little girl who was very angry child a year ago. She is now capable of such great amounts of love that she just blows me away.

While we were curled up in bed, she asked me if we could exchange gifts. Yes, she wanted her present, but she was equally excited to give mama and papa a craft that she had made in school. She truly wanted to give to us. She gave both of us hugs and kisses and thanked us after she received her gifts. I don’t go all out on my kids for Valentine’s Day. Just a little something to let them know that they are loved. Hannah received a kid’s CD, a pair of Valentine socks and a little craft kit. She didn’t care how much it cost she was just excited to receive something.

I also mentioned to her that we forgot to do bedtime prayers last night. She asked if she could pray this morning and of course, I said yes. Her prayer was beautiful. She thanked God for Valentine’s Day for having the best mama and papa. These were not manipulative prayers as some RAD kids can do. This was honest emotion from a beautiful little girl.

I have been blessed to have Hannah become my daughter. She gives so much love to me every day, even on the days she is a stinker. Her pure joy and the way she is able to love now just about make me burst with happiness. We have been through so many hard times with Sammy, and they are continuing. I never thought I’d be able to enjoy a true relationship with a child, especially after we lost Kory and Mackenzie. I know what a great gift God has given me with this child.

I was initially going to some church events and meetings tonight, but the never ending snow will probably keep me home. I’m not terribly disappointed by this. The chance to spend a night at home with the people I love is a rare treat.

I doubt I will hear from Sammy today. He is angry with me, and I am angry with some of the very bad choices he has been making lately.

Whatever you are doing today, do something to show yourself some love and have a Happy Valentine’s Day.

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