it's valentine's day! (uh-oh... you forgot?)

whelp, it's valentine's day... and, you forgot! well, don't worry. we can help you with some last minute ideas:

spend a couple hours together writing romantic ideas on separate slips of paper. after you get a total of 52 romantic ideas on 52 pieces of paper, then fill a box or jar with them. every week (select a "date night" if you don't already have one), from this day on, alternate who picks one and has to implement it by the following date night -- at which point the other partner will pick a new romantic idea and have a week to follow through with it.

purchase an "i love you" helium balloon from a local party store, then drive to his work and attach the balloon to the handle of his car door or windshield wiper.

spend the day just photographing each other... outdoors (at a local park, walking downtown, at the beach, on the playground), as well as indoors. make sure you get someone to take some photos of the two of you together. take some candids, and some posed. then frame one!

build a fire, snuggle up, and read a good book or perhaps romantic poetry together. make some hot chocolate or spiced cider to enhance the evening. don't have a fireplace? locate a virtual fireplace dvd for your television... won't keep you warm, but that's why you have each other.

select a dinner from a cookbook you have never tried. Shop for the ingredients and prepare dinner together. to add ambiance, choose a type of cuisine and add decorations or dress to enhance the atmosphere.

first plan a scavenger hunt. write clues on note cards telling him/her where to go. place the clues in the places around the community. have a friend or relative give him/her the first clue. the final clue leads your date to a restaurant (be waiting at the table with flowers).

prepare three envelopes (each with a different date). your date first chooses one of the three envelopes. she can opt to accept that date, or trade it in for one of the remaining two envelopes, which could be more or less desirable. be prepared to go out immediately.

go to your local party store and rent a helium tank good for around 75 balloons. buy at least 8 dozen balloons. go home and blow them up in the bedroom. don’t forget to leave at least 2-3 dozen (without helium) for the floor and bed. set up some candles and fresh flowers for the room. then get your favorite board game and set it up on the bed. cut up some fresh fruit to snack on.

whatever you decide to do, be sure to show your special one how much you love and care about them...not just on valentine's day, but every day! and don't forget your first Valentine: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 (NIV 2010) happy valentine's day!