Ferocious Flirting: Making Marriage Wonderful

Yes, Valentine's Day is fast approaching. Finding that perfect gift that fits in the budget can be a challenge. Here are some online gift ideas, many discounted or with special coupon codes. Don't wait until the last minute, again.

Need to know how to hint to your husband or wife on what to do for valentine's day? You can show use some of these links for ideas. I also like to keep a wish list over at Amazon.com.

Note: This post will be pegged at the top until Valentine's Day 2007. Also, I will add more deals as I become aware of them.

	Recommended Gifts for the Couple has a few unique gift ideas for Valentine's Day, includung chocolate.
	Do something different this Valentine's Day - send her a PajamaGram!
	Make her smile this Valentine's Day. Send her a Vermont Teddy Bear.
	Valentine's Day Gifts For Her at Walmart.com
	Valentine Novelties at Oriental Trading Company Remember to use the coupon code RT1XY06 for free shipping on an order of $60.00 or more.
	Save 15% on personalized gifts over $75. Code: LOVE15 at Things Remembered
	Unique Personalized Gifts at Personal Creations Also, Take 10% off any order from Personalized Creations with coupon code SIXTEN
	Send Valentine's Day Flowers & Save up to 25%!
	50% off Flying Hearts Gift Pack was $29.99, now ONLY $14.99! from the Popcorn Factory Use promo code VDAY8 and save $5 at The Popcorn Factory (Valid through 2.14.07)
	Shutterfly - Enjoy 15% off your order of unique Photo Gifts this Valentine's Day. Use coupon code: V15D-VDAY (Expires February 14, 2007).
	Purchase a Spa Finder Gift Certificate of $100 or More for Your Valentine and Receive Free Shipping

Labels: day, gifts, husband, ideas, inexpensive, romantic, valentine's, Valentines, wife

Over the last couple of years there have been many great posts with unique Valentine's Day gift ideas. If you are looking for traditional gifts like cards, jewelry, flowers and chocolates there are other places to find that kind of stuff.

Top 10 Valentine's Gifts from Things Remembered

The following list contains the other gifts, gifts that are unusual, mostly inexpensive and a lot of fun.

• 10 Valentine's Day Anti-Gift
  

Humor is such an important part of romance. Most Valentine's Day gifts are not designed to make the recipient laugh. That makes an anti-gift that much more effective this time of year

• 9 Singing Telegram

Twice I have surprised my sweetheart with a singing telegram on Valentine's Day. It has been one of the most memorable gifts she has ever received.

• 8 Write a love letter

Instead of store-bought, try hand made. Your sweetheart will love knowing that you took the time and effort to write a love letter.

• 7 Personalized Kisses

Also works with fortune cookies. Be sure and make some of them specific to you and your sweetheart.

• 6 Valentine Remailer

• Valentine, Nebraska
• St. Valentin Post Office, Canada
• Loveland, Colorado
  

• 5 "I treasure you" chest
• 4 Scavenger Hunt

A scavenger hunt is a great idea for Valentine's Day. It adds a sense of fun, wonder and anticipation.

• 3 Gifts with meaning
• 2 Printable Romantic Coupons

Thoughout the Internet, there are various sources of free printable Valentine's Day coupons.

• 1 Post it in a blog
  

Labels: gift, husband, Valentines, Valentines Day, wife

As we were going through my grandmother's things after her passing, my wife came across a wonderful old composition book. It apparently belonged to my grandmother's grandmother and has just a few short pages. One of the pages is dated 1919. Another has a short treatise entitled "How to preserve a husband" which I share with you today.

• Be careful in your selection, do not choose too young
  
• When once selected, give your entire thought for domestic use
• Some insist in keeping them in a pickle, others are constantly in hot water. This may make them sour, hard and sometimes bitter
• Even poor varieties may be made sweet, tender and good garnishing them with patience well sweetened with love and and seasoned with kisses
• Wrap them in a mantle of charity
• Keep warm with a fire of domestic devotion
• And serve with peaches and cream

Thus prepared, they will keep you for years.

Labels: couples, husband, marriage, preserve, romantic., tips

These verses have been asserting themselves into my brain for the past several weeks. Not only that, I have heard the verses themselves quoted or the intention behind them espoused in various places. I, therefore, share them with you. For your reading enjoyment, Matthew 7:3-5:

3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.

The first question I have is: what are a mote and a beam? I get the idea, but a beam stuck in my eye is hard to visualize. Here is what I found a beam to mean. Clicking on the definition takes you to the source:

• a large piece of wood used for building purposes
• log

Looks like I really do have a large piece of lumber in my eye, metaphorically speaking. A mote of course is a small speck, almost insignificant piece of dust.

What has this all to do with romance? A lot really. First, reread it replacing brother with husband or wife, as appropriate in your situation. Husbands should think "wife" instead of brother and wives think "husband" for brother.

Much of the scriptures, and particularly the teachings of Jesus, are dedicated to human relationships. Love your neighbor resounds throughout. I will ask the question once asked of Jesus: Who is my neighbor? Isn't your sweetie your closest and most important neighbor?

Often there is a temptation to change your sweetheart. To find some small imperfection, a speck of a problem, a mote if you will. It is human nature to want to fix the imperfection, to remove the speck or pull out the mote. When you feel like your sweetheart needs "improving", remember the beam in your own eye. Each of us has things we need to work on: goals to set and achieve, procrastination to overcome, gratitude to express, and to learn the pure love of Christ. Don't waste your time trying to fix your sweetie. Instead, work to extract that huge beam that is clouding your own vision.

Labels: beam, bible, couple, husband, mote, romantic, scripture, wife