vOugar Cry Page 9 Love Blooms Right after I got engaged a few years ago, I went to buy a dozen roses for my fiance for Valentine’s Day. I did not realize how expensive this gesture would be. Not being able to afford my gift of choice, I decided to buy a dozen packets of seeds so that my fiance could grow her own flowers. She enjoyed the flowers for several months af ter Valentine's Day and now expects seeds every year from her cherub boy. Valentine Treasure My favorite valentine story happened about two years ago. My five-year-old daughter came home from kinder garten saying she hadn't gotten me anything for “LOVE" day. I laughed and told her not to worry about it. About an hour later she came indoors and handed me a rock. I said what is this. She told me that it was my present. I took a good look at this rock and saw that she had used fingernail polish and created a beautiful heart with the words "I luv you" on it. I treasure that rock and will for ever. That is my most precious valentine gift ever. Full of Hearts Last year, I was a little short on cash, so I had to think of something cheap to get me past the 14th. Just as I was becoming desperate, I thought of the perfect gift. I bought two sheets of red construction paper and cut them into little hearts. Then I made a hearts and cupids label for a Mason jar. On each heart I wrote down some thing that I loved about my fiance and put it in the jar. A little ribbon and it was the best gift I could have gotten anywhere. Finer Things in Life When my husband and I first started dating, we talked about everything, as most new couples do. I told him that I was not a materialistic person at all and that I en joyed the simpler things in life. I told him that sometimes when people do off the wall things, it means more. I had commented that I would rather have ravioli by candle light as opposed to a huge expensive meal, because something like that actually requires thought. Well, on our first Valentine's together in ‘97, he made reserva tions at Applebee's, a restaurant here. After being seated and ordering our drinks, we were sitting there talking, and our waitress came out.... she was carrying a tray that had two cans and two bowls of Chef Boyar- dee Ravioli!!:) It was so funny that everyone was staring at us, but we didn’t care. He had called ahead and talked the staff there into doing this for him. It was the greatest Valentine's present ever! Leave Something Behind Last Valentine's I bought several bags of red and silver Hershey’s kisses. I left them in a trail throughout the apartment for my husband to follow. They led him to a note saying, "Just wanted to kiss the ground you walk on." After he figured out that I didn't just throw candy on the floor and leave it, he loved the idea. Express Yourself I like to do things differently every year for Valentine's Day. I'm not a fan of flowers, candy, or bears. So one year for my husband, I went and got a couple of sheets of red, pink, and white poster board. I wrote out different sayings on each one: Will You Be Mine, Scott?, Hugs and Kisses, and Happy Valentine's Day! I got up real early on Valentine's Day and put a few signs up in our yard with stakes and balloons. I nailed a few around the neighborhood and then took a few up on the highway. My husband loved it. There were many people who saw them and said something to him about them. He loved it! Express Yourself II Last valentine’s day I cut about fifty red, pink, and white hearts out of construction paper and wrote little sayings on each one. Then while my husband was away at work, I taped them all over our room. I left a plate of heart shaped sugar cookies tied to a balloon on our bed. I have never seen him so happy! Little Red Corvette I met my husband two weeks before Valentine's Day. I was seventeen and in love with Corvettes. I told him one day in jest that I would forever love the man that bought me a Corvette and on Valentine's Day that year and every year since, I get a new Hot Wheels Corvette. It's eleven years later. 14 Days of... Having a special ed child and twins was making it harder and harder to spend some quality time with my husband. In light of this, I decided the night before February 1st that what I needed was a whole new way of looking at the holiday. The Fourteen Days of Valentine's was what I came up with. February 1st: Make a Candlelight Dinner 2nd- Send a Singing Telegram to Work 3rd: Put a Valentine’s Bear in His Truck 4th: Run a Bath Complete with Bubbles 5th: Send Him Flowers to Work 6th: Hire Sitter for Dinner Out 7th: Put Love Note on Bathroom Mirror 8th: Hire sitter and Take a Walk near a Lake 5^h: Take Baked Goods to Work for Him and His Co workers 10th: Give Him a Heart Filled with Sweets 11th: Watch a Movie Together and Cuddle 12th: Hide a Love Note in His Lunch Box 13th: Give Him a Massage 14th: Take the "Kisses" Tags Out of a Bag of Hershey's Kisses and Place Them in a Box. (You can put the candy in a bowl to enjoy together. Wrap the box in Val entine’s paper and give it to him with this note; For every ticket within you, are entitled to one kiss ... and if you’re really good, I'll throw in a hug.) My husband really appreciated the lengths I went to, to make our Valentine's really enjoyable.