Hello! Valentine’s Day is upon us and I just couldn’t resist taking this opportunity to make a fun list of some of the cool things that my husband does regularly to show his love! Now, I know what you’re thinking, “Oh, my, this lady is gonna brag about her husband. Big deal.”  But, read on!  Maybe you will find inspiration in these ideas! Maybe you will use a few of these things to surprise your own spouse. Maybe this will cause you to think about how awesome your spouse or significant other is! That’s the point! When we count our blessings, we automatically feel more joy in our lives. Read on, my friends!

1. The “Vicki Playlist.”  My husband has a playlist on his iPod with my name on it. This list is full of all of my favorite songs and artists. When we ride in his truck, he pulls the Vicki Playlist up and we jam out to the music I love.  It’s such a thoughtful gesture and makes me feel special!

2. Mystery Dates. Every couple of months, my husband plans a mystery date. That means I have no ideas where we are eating and what we are doing. All he tells me is what type of clothing best suits the trip. For example, one time Scott told me to be ready for a 7:00 p.m. dinner, to wear warm-ish clothes because we’d be outside, and to bring my camera along.  We ended up eating at one of my favorite creekside diners and then visiting a local tourist spot after dark. It turns out that a traveling company was putting on a light show on the side of an aircraft carrier that is on display in Charleston’s Harbor. I love photography, so Scott figured that I’d love the light show and want to take pictures. It was a super fun night and not knowing what was going to happen was half of the fun.

3. Just Because Gifts.  My husband is super sneaky. He is good at keeping secrets which is one of the things at which I am most terrible. He listens to things I talk about, secretly shops on Amazon or local business, and then surprises me when I least expect it at random times throughout the year. I’ve received shoes, purses, watches, bracelets and many other things simply because he took the time to listen…and then be sneaky!

4. Cards on the Dash.  I get up for work at 5:00 a.m. I have to admit that I am usually grumpy in the mornings. I hate getting up alone when most people are sleeping. Since Scott leaves before I do, I don’t even have him to chat with as I get ready to improve my mood. So, again, on random occasions, I find little cards resting over my speedometer when I hop in the car to leave for work. Sometimes, there’s even a little chocolate to go with it!

5. Breakfast. While I normally do all the cooking in my house (and I use the term “Cooking” loosely,) on weekends and Wednesdays when my husband is off work, he is always careful to get up before I do and go make us breakfast! On work days it is such a blessing that I don’t have to cook for myself and I get a delicious breakfast. On weekends, it’s just plain thoughtful and fun! The extra effort that Scott puts into cooking and cleaning up puts a smile on my face and joy in my heart!

6. Support. One of the best romantic gestures of all is support. My husband is a great listener and gives terrific advice and then supports me. He’s supported my desire to start up a direct sales jewelry business. He’s cheered me on with my photography endeavors, too. He is totally understanding of my desire to retire from teaching and pursue another avenue of work.  This support means a lot to me. After all, who doesn’t love having someone in your corner?!

Now, there are so many other things that I could add to this list, but I’m pretty sure people wouldn’t keep on reading forever. So, in conclusion, I want to give you an assignment. Make a list of things your spouse or significant other does for you. Counting your blessings is a great way to lift your spirits!  Then make a list of things that you could do for someone else! I guarantee it will do your heart good! I hope you all have a very happy Valentine’s Day!

Listfully yours,

Vicki