A Week of "Love"

What is love?....

A question that has been answered in many different ways by many different people.  In this blog, I don't want to define love, because love is multi-faceted and complex and expressed and received in varying ways by each individual. However, I do want to share how I chose to express one form of love during the week of Valentine's and how I received love in return.

February 13, 2012

Location: Long Beach, CA

I had Monday off from work because of President's day. I took advantage of the day off to bake cookies. Anybody who knows me knows I love to bake and cook. One of the ways I show love is through service and caring for people. These cookies are a family tradition, my mom makes one for each of us every year. This year I shared the tradition by baking cookies for the teachers I work with, my roommate and some other friends. Even though Valentine's Day is a commercial holiday and I truly believe that if you really love someone you will find a way to express that love throughout the year, I like to take the opportunity to make sure that people who are important to me know that I love them.

February 14, 2012
Location: Long Beach, CA

Tuesday was Valentine's Day. I spent the day working. The wonderful thing about working in an elementary school is that my job involves painting hearts, passing out valentines and eating cupcakes. I received a few valentines from the kids at school and gave them some in return, but that wasn't really how I showed them love or how they loved me. I experience love each day through the smiles, hugs and giggles we share.  This and the knowledge that I could have a lasting impact in these kids lives keeps me going on tough days.

February 15, 2012
Location: Long Beach, CA

Really, I don't have a good narrative for this picture. Cookies are sweet; So is love. Sometimes it is difficult to tell if a cookie is good on the outside, the picture and decorations get a little blurred, but once you dive in and take a bite, you know if the cookies is good or not. Same thing happens in love. I could take this analogy further, but I will stop with this. You can never buy true love and you can never buy "your grandma's  famous cookie" from a store, but if you are looking for something close, this cookie will do it.

February 16, 2012
Location: Long Beach, CA

Thursday night I went out with my small group girls for a very fancy Valentine's dinner at Polly's.  Last year on Valentine's day I cooked dinner and baked cookies for them. I wanted to carry on the cookie tradition and share an example of the love my mom shows me every year. So here is to a circle of friends, made up of hearts, when put together shine like a star. (Ok, that was super cheesy, but that is what I see when I look closely at this picture). 

February 17, 2012

Location: Long Beach, CA

"A rose by any other name would still smell as sweet."

The classic expression of love, red roses. The contrast of something beautiful, bright and sweet in a place that is dirty, dull and forgotten.  What a difference a rose can make.

February 18, 2012 
Location: Palm Desert, CA
(There will be two pictures from this day, because the Valentine's week blog would not be complete without this final picture)

And finally, the infamous Valentine's day cookie from my wonderful mother. I love her so much. Thanks for showing me love in so many ways all the time!