25 years ago I found myself a lonely and somewhat cynical college student with a class assignment to make a simple computer animation. I created a beautiful rose... and then had it explode into smithereens. The year after that was my first Valentine's Day with my very own valentine - we were newlyweds of a couple months and it was delightful to know that someone loved me on that day. The next year, I celebrated Hearts Day by feeling the new wiggles of a little one beneath my own heart.
This year, I'm celebrating all those hearts. I bought our traditional red carnations, and bundled them up with bunches of baby's breath. I took flowers and pizzas to my college boys. I took flowers and pizzas to my newlyweds. I gave cute little boxes of candies to my small fry. I got my dad a box of chocolates.
Then all my little hearts gathered up their valentines for their classmates and their lunches and backpacks and trotted off to school. Maybe not all of them trotted. Maybe none of them trotted. Trent went off to the office, my dad went to take his morning nap, and the house was quiet.
I sat back and listened to the quiet for a few minutes, and then I found this quote:
"Sometimes, my dear sisters, you feel inadequate and ineffective because you can't do all that you feel you should. Rather than continually dwelling on what still needs to be done, pause occasionally and reflect on all that you do and have done. It is most significant.
"The good you have done, the kind words you have spoken, the love you have shown to others, can never be fully measured." -Thomas S. Monson
Happy Valentine's Day, especially to you mothers. Your love is good and needed. Thank you for the good you do in the world.
