Love Thursday: February 14th, 2008

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!  

An admission:  historically, I've always rather disliked Valentine's Day, ever since I was a gawky tween, all knees and teeth, and the only person in class who didn't receive a Valentine.  Even now, as someone who is in a happy and loving marriage, Valentine's Day still makes me uneasy:  what's with all the jewelry ads on television?  The pressure to come up with the perfect gift?  The sheer commercialization of love?  I mean, granted, Valentine's Day is sort of a Hallmark Holiday, and it's certainly nice to be the recipient of such things, but is that really the only way to express love?

I say no.  Absolutely not.  As a matter of fact, I think I'm going to celebrate Valentine's Day a little differently this year:   

Today, Valentine's Day, in addition to making sure my husband and daughter know how much they're loved, I'm going to challenge myself commit a random act of love today.  It may not be overwhelming or grandiose; in fact, often the best acts of love aren't.  Perhaps I'll send a note or an e-mail to someone with whom I haven't  spoken in a while, telling them I'm thinking of them.  Or maybe I'll buy a small grocery-store bouquet of flowers and leave them anonymously on someone's doorstep.  Or maybe I'll leave a Love Note to my city in some random location. Who knows?  But I think I want to do something love-ly.  Take Valentine's Day back to what it's all supposed to mean.

 Of course, you can feel free to join me. :)

Anyway, Valentine's Day aside, Happy Love Thursday!   Please leave your links to your images of love in the comments below (and be sure to check out the beautiful work of camera shy momma, iyoyome, and nicky thomas and their depictions of love). 

And most sincerely, may your hearts be FILLED with love today, on this special, Valentine's Love Thursday Day! 

Comments

[rachel]

A perfect mix, love thursday and valentines day! I focused on sisterly love
http://ourgaggleofgirls.com/agog/2008/02/14/happy-love/

[The Twinkies]

http://twinkies.bastetweb.com/2008/02/14/happy-valentines-day/

You do NOT want to know how many shots it took to get this one.

[laura plouzek]

i always relish that chance to tell people that i love them. i just prefer to express my love by doing and being and giving, not buying. =)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/smilinglaura/2265283646/

happy valentine's!

[Sam]

Be love!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2366/2250831529_3699718a57.jpg

[Lucy]

Love to me is many things, not the least of which is the serenity and joy of being with family doing the things we love to do.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucindasummerville/336338081/

Happy Valentines and Love Thursday to Shutter Sisters, I feel the Love on this site and it makes me warm. Thank you Sistas.

[Farrah Braniff]

Such a wonderful idea! Here's my first time post.

http://farrahblog.squarespace.com/my-photo-life/2008/2/14/my-first-love-thursday.html

Happy love thursday everyone!

[Jen]

I make a lot of things, but softies are not something I am good at. So I made the kids these soft hearts. My son's is a different fabric than the girls and he calls it his "snuggle heart." He's so excited about it and being able to sleep with it at night. It's funny how the little things are the special ones.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23177175@N05/2264317419/

[jenijen]

happy valentine-thursday love
http://notcalmdotcom.typepad.com/snap/2008/02/love-thursday-v.html

[magpie]

My daughter and I made valentine's for family and schoolmates. Here's one:

http://magpiemusing.blogspot.com/2008/02/be-my-valentine.html

And this morning I woke up to valentine's made by my husband, out of the leftovers. And I hadn't thought he'd been paying any attention.

[kelsie]

Love and Happy Valentines Day!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mtngrl/444951279/

[Chris]

Nothing says love like a brand new baby.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeroldssis/2257935365/

[Melissa Anne Morelli]

May love be in the air today and always...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23520407@N06/2264625153/

xoxo

[Marci]

It's my first Love Thursday. Happy Valentine's Day!

http://the4parkers.blogspot.com/2008/02/lovefest.html

[Shama-Lama Mama]

Here is a picture of love between three of the many men I love in my life (some older, some quite small):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/shama-lama_mama/549041122/

Happy Valentine's Day!

[*pixie*]

My little bit of love for the day.
http://pixiestemple.blogspot.com/2008/02/come-aboard-were-expecting-you.html

[kristin]

Certainly not the Valentine's Day any of us had hoped for here. No chocolates, no flowers, but the plenty of love. love of caring for a sick child, love of nurturing no matter how messy it gets. Happy Valentine's Day. be well my Casey. xo
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14811117@N02/2265488828/

[TICA]

A love thing is a good thing.
http://willows95988.typepad.com/tongue_cheek/2008/02/the-best-valent.html

[Liz]

Happy Valentine's Day/Love Thursday everyone!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lizgrandmaison/2264748311/in/set-72157603864754556/

[Raven]

Here is mine, love is often cheesy. Why not say it through cheesecake from La Madeleine?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/justexpressive/2265557852/

[jen lemen]

karen, i love this! we are thinking along the same lines. i posted about doing something kind today--for someone i know, and someone i don't. yay, love thursday! ;)

http://www.jenlemen.com/blog/?p=325

[Christine]

I'm not much of a Valentine's Day person either. We spend the day at home celebrating with each other.

Happy Love Thursday!

http://www.thebeanblog.com/2008/02/14/love-thursday-february-14-2008/

[jessica new]

I never have a problem with people taking extra time out of their busy schedules to show others that they care. I just wish we could keep the spirit of LOVE going all year long....
Happy Valentine's Love Thursday Day!! (what are the chances?) : )

http://jessicanew.blogspot.com/2008/02/happy-valentines-day.html

[Anna at Hank & Willie]

We made cookies for the nursery school teachers, and dropped the extras in our neighbors' mailboxes--the valentine fairy!

And here's what Valentine's Day is like with two boys! :)
http://hankandwillie.wordpress.com/2008/02/14/valentines-or-stealth-bombers-you-decide/

[Angela]

Here's some love! My hubby got me roses and a mug for V day! Hope everyone has a wonderful day!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2378/2263358300_f97d9fa2d1.jpg

[suz]

happy valentines to all...
http://sperlygirl.typepad.com/sperlygirl/2008/02/love-thursday.html

[Colleen]

On loving my husband (and wondering if I deserve him):

http://delaneydiaries.typepad.com/the_delaney_diaries/2008/02/love-thursday-l.html

[leslie]

I totally agree with the sentiment - we celebrate in our own little ways without giving H*llmark a dime :)

http://lesophie.blogspot.com/2008/02/four-birds-one-post.html
Happy Love Valentine's Thursday!

[SarahK]

http://flickr.com/photos/faerie79/2264892985/

Happy Valentine's Day!

[Kathleen]

This is my first Shutter Sisters post...a timely LOVE Thursday!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23630286@N05/2256041985/

[O]

You have the right idea about extending your display of love to everyday and not just Valentine's Day. I agree, highly commercialized. Who needs it? I too was that awkward tween who got passed over on Valentine's Day but, like you said, here we are all grown up and it's a whole different story. Hope you enjoy your day and I hope you'll fulfill your goal of your daily random acts of love. Here's my Valentine's Day contribution: http://www.flickr.com/photos/64193962@N00/2265674902/

[Christina]

I have always felt the same way about Valentines Day. No need to commercialize love...it's pure and real, and it's in the little things. :o)

http://momology.blogspot.com/2008/02/happy-valentines-day.html

[Shalet]

Happy Heart's Day all! Here's mine Love Thursday contribution.

http://www.peculiarmomma.blogspot.com

[carrie]

Okay, this one isn't in the category of great (or even particularly good) photos. But the moment made my heart burst. Their Dad has cancer and has been so sick -- then a staph infection in his blood landed him in the hospital AGAIN. I took our kids in to visit him last Saturday and they were afraid to touch him -- he was so fragile, and hooked to machines. This moment was when their relationship slipped back to some semblance of normal.

http://flickr.com/photos/read2me/2255473669/

[Mary W]

I don't do commercial Valentine's day either.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2226/2264811779_c85d21348c_o.jpg

[Dana]

It's the ultimate Love Thursday. I hope everyone had a great day!

Here are mine:

http://ijustlovebeingme.blogspot.com/2008/02/look-closely.html

http://ijustlovebeingme.blogspot.com/2008/02/as-promised.html

[Daisy]

Likewise. This Hallmark Holiday can be made special in our own way. My Love Thursday is up:http://compostermom.blogspot.com/2008/02/valentine-will-you-be-mine.html

[Nancy R]

Is anyone else having trouble using the 'my response is on my own website' option?

My response is on my own website, heh.

Happy Love Thursday! I love the groovy love rock.

[Shanna]

Here's my shot! Happy Valentines day....happy love Thursday.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/just_so/2266014970/

[sarah]

Lovin' me some Love Thursday:

http://babymast.blogspot.com/2008/02/love-thursday.html

[Sara Moon]

Not taken by me, but by another Shutter Sister - Jen Hunter.
http://saramoonphotoblog.blogspot.com/2008/02/love-thursday-3.html

[Michelle]

We don't usually make a big deal of V'day, but I've been feeling crummy the past few days and DH surprised me with a dozen beauties last night.

http://flickr.com/photos/4wards/2266095784/

Happy Love Thursday <3

[Karen (from Our Deer Baby)]

My valentine's day wasn't particularly good, but I still felt very strongly about posting a Love Thursday post

http://o-scientist.blogspot.com/2008/02/love-thursday.html

Karen

[Bridge]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23591135@N02/2265344585/

This is out favorite family tradition, homemade pizza. Yay!

[Kristin]

Happy Heart Day!

http://kphotodesign.typepad.com/k/2008/02/love-thursday-o.html

[Flash Forward]

http://outloud.wordpress.com/2006/08/06/8/

[Andrea T]

A group of sweet (yet not sugary) 'Love' snacks.
Happy Valentine's Day!

[Andrea T]

Hopefully my link will show this time...

[Andrea T]

http://om-mami.blogspot.com/2008/02/love.html

[Andrea T]

http://om-mami.blogspot.com/2008/02/love.html

[Lisl Sukachevin]

Here's my photo for Love, Thursday. We've had our dog over two years now, and we still can't believe she's ours! The boys love on her all the time--poor dog!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/73718243@N00/2266303242/

Lisl Sukachevin