My husband and I absolutely love Valentines Day. February has some sad memories for me but it also has some incredible ones! For instance, on Valentines Day we got married at 2:14pm (02/14 yeah we’re cute like that).

Every year we try to make a goal to do “one thing” that enhances our marriage. Yes I believe in more then “1 thing a year” in fact, I love weekly date nights but that’s besides the point. If you don’t do anything ever then please commit to doing one thing.

If you have never heard of the book “The 5 Love Languages” I highly recommend that you read it or maybe you and your spouse read it together – like a chapter a night! That could be your 1 thing this year. And it would be VERY beneficial. There are “things” that really matter to your spouse that may not matter that much to you. Words of affirmation, acts of service or even physical touch – one of these things will shine bright with you and one with your spouse so take the time to find out what makes them REALLY feel loved.

Do you want a good marriage? Or… do you want a fantastic rock your face off, blow your mind – AMAZING marriage?! I absolutely REFUSE to settle in my relationship with my husband. I want the AMAZING ONE!!! And you can have the amazing one too!

Try this Valentines Day to do these 5 things:

1. Start your prep for V-Day early. Like I mean get your life together February 1st. So that by the 14th you’re not running to Walmart to grab the last box of no-name chocolate off the shelf at 9pm. FAIL! Seriously start thinking about what you can get your spouse that would really matter to them. What do they enjoy? It doesn’t have to be chocolate it could be a heart shaped pizza! (I really enjoy pizza) Ps: A way to a man’s heart is through his stomach (or so I hear) so start with something to eat. I like to get Valentine’s Day candies. So on February 1st I like to run to the store and get some goodies that “pump up” the family for the month. My husband and I love the candy “Love Hearts”. We actually had this candy as a favour at our wedding. Ironically the candy actually reminds us both or our fathers because they would buy it (and we would eat it). So this year I chose to buy a bin of Love Hearts and we eat them at memorable times like long drives or watching a family movie, I’ve even snuck them into my husbands lunch kit for work. It just gives a little “I love you” this month.
2. Your words matter so choose them wisely. Ponder what makes your spouse the best spouse for you. What do they do that melts your heart or takes you back to the first time you fell in love. Write them a note and put it under their pillow or in their lunch kit. It doesn’t have to be a giant essay (although it could be) but even a short poem. A few words of appreciation go a LOOOOOOOONG way. Write on your goal board “write an encouraging note every week” and do it. It could even be as simple as a Facebook message letting them know you appreciated something they did that week. I started this at the beginning of the year as a weekly goal and it makes you more thankful about your life when you share your appreciation for others.
3. Decide something that you could do that would make your spouses life better. Lets face it – you’re lazy. You can always do better but choosing not to for whatever reason (and seriously don’t be in denial about it). Choose today to do something that would make life for your spouse just a little bit better. (Here’s a short story/example for you) The other night my husband and I were in bed and I said to my husband that I wanted a peanut butter and honey sandwich. (Now right now I want you to STOP and predict what you would do or what you think would happen…..) So I got up out of bed and my husband said that he would go to the kitchen with me. I put the bread on the plate and my husband said that the honey I should use was in the cupboard. He went and got the honey, opened the jar and put it on the table for me. This moment. This right here was that 1 thing for me. He didn’t have to get out of bed, he really didn’t have to tell me where the honey was, and he defiantly didn’t have to open the jar but he did. He chose an act of service that benefited my desire to eat a peanut butter and honey sandwich. Your act could be to do the laundry that week or take out the garbage for the month every week consistantly. My husbands’, in my eyes, was open a honey jar – and it mean’t everything to me.
4. Pick a day – any day – and make it fun! The best things in life are… Time with your loved one(s). Pick one day, like as if you are deciding “what to make for supper type of picking”, and choose some quality time. It could be a drive to the lake for an hour, an outing to the zoo, dinner and a movie, or even a two week paid for vacation. This year is our 5 year anniversary. I can remember the past years not being so “full of excitement” but this year we committed to taking quality time and investing in an anniversary celebration. (Our wedding day was, after all, one of the best days of our lives!)
5. Let your spouse REALLY know that you are thinking about them. I once read an article about how a mans lifespan is actually increased if he hugs and kisses his wife before he leaves for work every day. Like that is truly amazing! Hugging your spouse every day can keep you alive longer #mindblown It also committed me to doing this before my husband left for work, at least for a while. I really enjoy pictures and surrounding myself with items that remind me of important things in life. One year I gave my husband a giant picture board of all kinds of pictures of him and I doing fun adventures together (like going to weddings, walks we had and events we went to that we continued to fall more in love with each other at). Whether it’s a hug a day or a kiss before bed, let your spouse know you love them. A simple gift would be a picture of you and your spouse in a small picture frame. They can have it at work, at home or even in your bedroom. Reminding each other of the LOVE you have for each other is so important.

Be inspired this year to INVEST in your marriage to have the BEST MARRIAGE possible. Communicate and be open – share your love for one another this year and every year to come. Happy Valentines Day <3 and to my husband, I love you. You’re amazing.