83 Ways to Celebrate Valentines Day · really depended on how much money we had to spend that year. Once Hunter was here, Steve always picked up something special for him. Sometimes

© Kerry Beck, 2012 www.HowToHomeschoolMyChild.com

83 Ways to Celebrate

Valentine’s Day

By Kerry Beck

“Romance is a celebration of the senses

a celebration of being.”

~ Susan Branch


Please do not share this ebook with others.

If you know someone who would enjoy this

ebook, send them to http://budurl.com/hthmc

Or, post this blog button on your site.

Grab code is below.

<a href="http://budurl.com/hthmc" target="_blank" title="" ><img

src="http://howtohomeschoolmychild.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/83ways-blogbutton.png"

width="125" alt="February Freebies" /></a>

Get a Copy of My Free Report

“Everything You Want to Know About Homeschooling”

by going here:

www.HowToHomeschoolMyChild.com

Kerry Beck is the author of Christmas Holiday Celebrations: Celebrate Advent, Christmas & Epiphany, which encourages families to keep Christ the center of Christmas and Valentine Celebrations. She wants to give you her free report, Everything You Want to Know About Homeschooling! at http://www.HowToHomeschoolMyChild.com

http://budurl.com/hthmc

http://www.howtohomeschoolmychild.com/

http://www.christmascelebrationideas.com/

http://www.christmascelebrationideas.com/

http://www.curriculumconnection.net/valentinesday08.htm



What’s Inside?

Top 10 Ways to Celebrate

Valentine History

Fun Valentine’s Ideas

Long Distance Valentines

Valentine’s Day Cards

Valentine’s Day Games & Crafts

Valentine’s Day Around the World

Valentine Websites


OUR FAMILY VALENTINES DAY

Valentine’s Day is usually for adults, but we have always celebrated Valentines as

a family. We have special meals all day long, working up to our Valentine Feast

at dinnertime. Our table is gorgeous with either red Fiesta plates or our china.

Flowers, hearts and candy decorate the table.


Kids should be included in your celebration of Valentine’s Day. Use a little

creativity to make this day enjoyable for your kids.

Earlier in the day, look what we had for lunch on Valentine’s Day. A surprise for

the kids.

For dessert, I made a special chocolate – mint cake one year.


Valentine's Day crafts, games, puzzles... all of these can add fun for your family.


Top 10 Ways Our Family Celebrates

Valentines Day

1. Special Valentines Day Dinner I grew up celebrating Valentine's Day as a family. My parents did not go out for Valentines Day. Instead we ate dinner together as a family. I always make a special meal, using our china, cloth tablecloth & cloth napkins. I also find a special dessert to make. 2. Valentine Clues All Day Cut out paper hearts. Write reasons you love your spouse. Leave them in places where he/she will see them all day long. 3. Decorate your Valentine Dinner Table I sprinkle candy down the center of our table. Usually this includes conversation hearts. I have a plastic heart with a tulle ribbon around it. I use that for the center piece. Of course, we eat the candy through the course of the meal 4. Exchange Valentines Whether you have a party with your friends, we always exchange Valentines with our family. Sort of like Christmas. There are years we have created Valentines by hand. Years we made photo cards. Years we bought those silly kid Valentines. Before our meal, we put the envelopes in front of each person. After dinner, we open all our Valentines 5. Valentines Party Invite a few friends over to celebrate Valentine’s Day. I did this the first year we homeschooled our girls. Each person that came brought a set number of Valentines to exchange. You can decide how involved you want to make this party. One idea is to get a refrigerator box and paint it red & white. Decorate with hearts. Let the kids take turns being the post office worker. 6. Get Dad Involved When I was in college, I had a friend who always got flowers from her Dad. When our daughters were young, Steve started giving our girls a flower at Valentines.


Some years, it was a single rose. Other years, it was an assortment of flowers. It really depended on how much money we had to spend that year. Once Hunter was here, Steve always picked up something special for him. Sometimes a balloon or sometimes a toy. Hunter has never been excited about candy. 7. Valentine Stamping Party Invite friends over to make Valentine cards. Let the kids make cards for their fmaily & friends. At the end, offer a special Valentine treat. We often did this at least one week before Valentine’s Day 8. Valentine Pancakes I think I made these almost every year the kids were growing up.. Why? Because my mom made heart shaped pancakes. Add chocolate chips to make them special

9. Heart Shaped Sandwiches Cut heart shapes from whole grain bread, using a heart cookie cutter. Spread peanut butter & jelly (or whatever your kids like) & assemble sandwiches. 10. Heart Biscuits Make angel biscuit dough (recipe below). Roll out & cut with heart shaped cookie cutter. Serve with

your special Valentine dinner. Or, use for breakfast. Spread raspberry or strawberry jam to make it festive red. I use my Kitchen Aid and add each ingredient in the order listed below. ¼ cup warm water 1 pkg yeast ½ cup oil 2 cups sour/buttermilk (add 2Tbsp lemon juice to milk) ½ cup sugar 1 Tbsp baking powder 1 tsp salt 5 cups flour Roll to ½ inch thickness. Use heart shaped cookie cutter for biscuits. Bake 400 for 10 minutes.


I often let biscuits rise on cookie sheet for 2 hours.

VALENTINE HISTORY

Every February, across the country, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint and why do we celebrate this holiday? The history of Valentine's Day -- and its patron saint -- is shrouded in mystery. But we do know that February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine's Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient rite. 11. Discover St. Valentine Read St. Valentine's story below. Discuss it with your family. Valentine's Day is named in honor of Saint Valentine, who lived during the Roman times. There is a belief that when Valentine died, he left a note to his jail keeper's daughter which was signed, "Your Valentine." People have been sending similar messages to their loved ones since then. According to another legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl -- who may have been his jailor's daughter -- who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure. It's no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France.

12. Research more about St. Valentine & write about his story. Use Units 3 or 4 of Teaching Writing: Structure & Style to show your kids how to write a story or short essay 13. God's View of Love – Biblical History of Love Read I Corinthians 13 every night for the first 14 days of February. Discuss one aspect of love each night. Ask your kids for examples of how they can show that characteristic of love.

http://howtohomeschoolmychild.com/iew/teaching-writing-structure-style/


FUN VALENTINE IDEAS

14. Love Story At dinner, tell your kids how you & your spouse met. Look at your wedding pictures as a family. 15. Healthy Valentines Let your kids make some healthy snacks on their own and serve to your family as a special Valentine treat. 16. Valentine Treasure Hunt Write clues on paper hearts. Give your children the first clue that will lead to the next one. Include 5-6 clues with the last one leading to a special treat for your kids. 17. Special Meals I feel that Valentine dinners should be special. Choose your sweetie's favorite foods and surprise him or her with a wonderful romantic meal and a special table set for two (or your entire family). If you have a fireplace, set a small table close by, and use your most delicate china and crystal. A few candles and a small, low bowl of fresh flowers will complete the atmosphere. 18. Valentine's Day is occasions of gift exchanging among dear ones. With your kid's make a Valentine's Day heart or flower basket which, for sure, will entertain your kids. 19. Decoration is another activity kids love to do. You can have them decorating their bedrooms and the house matching to the theme of the day. Balloons, scrapers etc... will make them happy and they will love the day. 20. An outing or pleasure trip is ideal on Valentine's Day as this will make them more affectionate to the family. Have family games or your food outdoors to teach them the importance of loving each other. What ever you do on Valentine's


Day with your kids, should tell them the message of love and affection. 21-31. Valentines Day is a chance to let those you love know how much you truly love them. A few things you might for the one you love are:

Make a homemade card

Pick some flowers

Bake a giant chocolate chip cookie – in a heart shape, if you like

Prepare a special family meal…drop candy hearts down the middle of the

table and use your china

Play music you liked when you first got married

Send a special e-mail

Take a walk together

Sit next to your sweetie in the car (when’s the last time you did this?)

Send an e-card

Have flowers, card or gift delivered to your sweetie

Make heart-shaped everything that day – pancakes, sandwiches, cookies,

cakes, red jello, meatloaf, biscuits…use your imagination

More Valentine Celebration Ideas…from Others Most of these ideas are for couples, but some can be adapted for your family. Enjoy! 32. Picnic Dinner The greatest gift for Valentine's Day would be a picnic dinner on the carpet next to a roaring fire, with soft music playing in the background and candles lit all over the room. After dinner we would go dance beneath the stars (or in the rain). At the end of the night, he would tell me that he loved me. 33. Bedroom Decorations Some low-cost decorations for a bedroom you share with your love: decorate with black and red streamers, cardboard cupids, discarded red rose petals, and heart-shaped napkins; use red lipstick to say 'I love you' on your mirror or send a message in glow-in-the-dark chalk on the wall and add a black light for added effect! Add a huge red bow to the bedroom door to hint at what's inside!


34. Roses A great gift to give any girl on Valentine's Day is a rose. The only problem is that the roses never last! My idea for a great gift is to give someone a dozen roses; 11 real roses and one that would be silk. And a great note to go with it is: "When the last rose dies is when I will stop loving you!" I know that if a guy ever did that for me, I would just die! It would be so sweet. That is my idea of a great gift! 35. Ice Cream Cold ice-cream in front of the fireplace, with the fire burning bright. The lights would be turned down low and the radio would be playing a soft love song. I want him to make me feel like I'm the only woman in the world!! Then just a single "I LOVE YOU. 36. Restaurant Reservation My husband often works out of town and one year he wasn't home for Valentines day, but was home the next day. I contacted the owner of a local restaurant and had her reserve the entire dining room for me (it was a weeknight and business wouldn't have been as busy as a weekend). I pre-ordered everything from our drinks to the meals to a shared dessert. I had balloons and candies at the table when we got there. We were halfway through our entree before he realized that we hadn't ordered anything, yet all of his favorites were being delivered. We had a long, leisurely supper. He still says that was the best night ever! 37. Sugar Cookies A great way to show you care is to make some homemade sugar cookies, and use different sized heart-shaped cookie cutters. When the cookies are cooled, ice them and decorate them the way the heart-shaped candies with two-word phrases are done... wrap them in a big, open box and cover the box with plastic wrap. It's simple, but it's very sweet. 38. Video of Memories If you don’t have a video recorder, borrow one. I did that and gave my wife a lasting account of the place where we fell in love, Cheyenne. There was nothing more appropriate to give her than images from those moments in time: where we first met, had our first date, had our first fight, talked all through the night, worked all those long hours, and finally got married.


39. Hot Sauce Send your honey a bottle of Tabasco or other hot sauce? Tack on a note which says "I think you're really hot!!!" and put it somewhere sure to make them smile!!


Ideas from Love, by Susan Branch

38-45. I re-read Susan Branch’s book, Love, each year before Valentine’s Day.

Does he love coffee? Get him a 50lb box of his favorite kind. Are Nutty Buddies her cup of tea? Fill the freezer. Do it BIG!

If one of you has to go away, a good gift is stationery and lots of LOVE stamps. You can seal His letters with a kiss (use lots of lipstick).

Brides magazines are a great place to look for romantic vacations ideas.

A limo is a wonderful luxury - hire one for a trip to the airport, to the

train station, or even just out to a special dinner.

Dedicate a song over the radio.

Godiva Chocolate - Need I say more?

Little dishes of candy - like red hots at Valentines Day, chocolates at Christmas, candy-covered Easter eggs in spring. If you have a problem

with eating these, get the kind you don't like

Bouquets of romantic flowers - sweet peas, poppies peonies, sanpdragons, freesia - something that smells good. Flowery anything is romantic...Well, not everything. Steve suggested marigolds and we just laughed since

marigolds stink


46. Valentine Breakfast

Plan ahead by deciding now what you will serve for breakfast. Below are two Valentines Breakfast Menus.

German Pancakes with Powdered Sugar & Heated Maple Syrup (may substitute Heart Shaped Pancakes) Watermelon Balls Bacon Strips Baked Bananas w/ Vanilla Ice Cream Orange Juice mixed with Sparkling Water Heart-Shaped Waffles - Raspberry Syrup Blueberries, Strawberries & Raspberries Sausage Links One-half Cantaloupe with a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream inside Hot Chocolate with whipped cream Red Zinger Iced Tea


Romance is... ...hiding little surprises in suitcases,

under the pillow,

in the medicine chest

… a note, candy, a funny comic strip.

...brides magazines

...great place to look for romantic vacation ideas.

...a limo

….a wonderful luxury

…hire one for a trip to the airport, to the train station,

… or even just out to a special dinner!!!


Long Distance Valentines

Your loved one is far away, so what can you do to show them you are thinking of them on Valentine’s Day? You might try a few of these ideas. 47. Write a short note for every day or for special dates, you will be gone, and place each note in an envelope. Write the date you want your spouse to open the note on the front of each envelope. 48. If you know your husband has to make a big presentation at work on a certain day, write a note to boost his confidence and tell him you believe in him and label the note for him to open on that date. 49. You can mail the package with all the notes in it and your spouse will look forward to opening each note while you are away! 50. Make or buy a calendar and write notes on the calendar for each day or for special days. Your spouse can hang the calendar at home or in the office and she will be reminded that you are thinking of her every time she reads a note you’ve written. 51. Handmade, silly calendars with art work and drawings, or with pasted or taped pictures of you, or of ‘special places’ you’ve gone together are especially effective! Even if you aren’t a master artist or photographer, your spouse will love the thought! 52. Include a personal item in the package (an earring, a comb, a cufflink or something that belongs to you. If it is part of a pair, and you keep the other part with you, the thought is even more romantic). 53. Include a non-perishable edible item (like a lollipop, or perhaps a small bag of trail mix if your spouse uses that for energy while biking or walking his exercise trail) 54. Make a CD of a song or songs you both love and send a copy with a romantic title or note. 55. Cut words or phrases out of the on board airline magazine and tape or glue them on the hotel stationary to make a funny or sweet love letter ‘from the road’.


VALENTINE CARDS

56. Card making is the perfect craft for kids on Valentine's Day. Card making is an easy, fun activity that will put a smile on your child's face. Gather some simple art supplies and help your child to make creative cards to give to family and friends this 57. When your children are young, use pre-punched hearts and stickers for Valentine’s cards. As your children grow up, show them how to cut out hearts for their cards. Add doilies and other craft supplies. 58. My favorite thing about Valentine’s is making home-made cards. We get a new stamp set each year and design fun cards to exchange. Stock up on red & crimson colored card stock early. We discovered (from our own experience) that it is hard to find red card stock on Feb 13. 59. Valentine's Day is not limited to lovers and romancing couples, but the day also holds a message of universal brotherhood and affection. Ask your kids to write affectionate messages and send to friends, family members and teachers. You can have them writing small poems and sending each other. Ask them to exchange gifts with friends and dear ones.

60. THIS IS SO COOL!!!

Make fighter jet valentines. They are so fun to make and big hit!

Fold a piece of paper into an airplane shape. Write the “to and from” part on the wings and decorate with markers. I wouldn’t add stickers as it may make the wings a bit off balance.

Stick a piece of gum (like Wrigley’s) inside the main fold. If it is inserted correctly, the gum should ‘fly’ out when the airplane is thrown.

If the plane doesn’t fly well, look at straight on from the nose. Bend the wings so they are horizontal. If one or both is at an angle, it may fly funny.

Here’s a website for folding some paper airplanes: http://www.amazingpaperairplanes.com/Simple.html

http://www.amazingpaperairplanes.com/Simple.html


61. Heart-Shaped Box – Instead of a card http://www.stampin.com/tips/heartbx.htm

62. More Card Ideas from Martha Stewart

Valentine Cards

BONUS FOR YOU:

Send a FREE Valentine Card right here:

http://www.SendOutCards.com/becks

You can even add your family photos to the card.

We’ll also mail it for you!

http://www.stampin.com/tips/heartbx.htm

http://www.marthastewart.com/portal/site/mslo/menuitem.3e37788aa306c4df62fc95103373a0a0/?vgnextoid=0a2cb3c1c1e47110VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&vgnextfmt=default&rsc=hol_Homepage_Homepage

http://www.sendoutcards.com/becks


VALENTINE GAMES & CRAFTS

Games are a blast for Valentines Day, especially for kids. The games listed here can be adapted to kids of different ages, with just a little creativity. 63. There are number of games you can have with your kids. Prefer either an outdoor game or indoor game which suits to the theme of the occasions. You may want to purchase few of the Valentine's Day puzzles available in the shops and presenting one to your kids will make them all the more happy. Playing it will be great fun on the day. Another activity that fits younger kids on the day is coloring pages. There are Valentine's Day coloring pages available for kids and they will love doing it, thus making the day more colorful. If your group has an odd number of children, let one go twice. It’s that simple.

64. Valentine Bingo * Cut card stock and into hearts to make your bingo cards * Draw your grid on each heart and put stickers in the squares * Red hots or a small candy, such as M&M's, for markers * Valentine bag to hold call cards How To Play: Create your own cards using a Valentine, February, or Candy Bar theme. Valentine theme might include: card, heart, red, pink, white, cupid, St. Valentine. February theme might include: groundhogs, President Lincoln, Washington, winter, doves, valentines. A candybar theme might include: Skor, Mr. Goodbar, Milkyway, Hershey, Kisses, Hugs, Joy (go to the grocery store for this one). Another variation to create your own Bingo card: Write the names of all the children on pieces of paper and drop them into a Valentine bag. Create a BINGO card with blank spaces. Across the top it will say "N-A-M-E-S". Let each child sign his name to each card. When all are done, have them sit down at their tables. Play NAMES by drawing a name out of the bag. Play regular BINGO or blackout.


65. Valentine Box Contest * Shoebox for each child or other container * Decorating supply list for each child * Scissors * Glue Let the children decorate their box or container. Judge the boxes for the following categories: funniest, prettiest, most creative, etc. 66. Pin The Heart On Cupid * Big picture of Cupid on posterboard – don’t include the heart, just put an X * A red heart, for each child, with sticky tack on back and their name on the front * Blindfold How To Play: Blindfold the player, spin 'em around and let them try to stick the heart where it's supposed to go. Give a prize for the player that gets the closest. 67. Love Thy Neighbor * Paper * Pen * Timer How To Play: Sit in a circle Set the timer and have the children write as many kind things as they can think of about their child on their right. The last child writes about the first child. Suggest that they write kind things about how their neighbor acts, thinks, plays, works or looks. Give the paper to the neighbor to take home. 68.Red Envelope * Red Envelope for each child * Paper * Pen/pencil How To Play: Have the children write a letter of love and gratitude family member. When finished they should fold it up and place in the red envelope, seal it, and write the persons name on the front. On Valentines Day they should place it on their pillow or somewhere else they'll be sure to find it.


69. Valentines Coupons * Five pieces of cardstock, for each child, cut to the same size, with the words "This Coupon Good For" printed at the top. * Envelope for each child * Pen/pencil How To Play: Have children create their very own valentine coupons to give to family members. Give them suggestions such as, This Coupon Is Good For: A hug, A kiss, Taking out the garbage, Doing the dishes, cleaning the living room, helping with the laundry, etc. 70. Match Maker A Valentine's Day word game where famous pairs come together. Divide the children into 2 teams and form two rows facing each other. The first player on one side begins by asking the first player on the other team to complete this famous couple: "Romeo and ....." the opposing player says "Juliet" Continue down the row of players and then the other team starts...."peanut butter and ....." "jelly" "Cookies and......." - milk "Eggs and......" - bacon "Cinderella and ....." - Prince Charming "Samson and ....." - Delilah And so on. Variation: I played this game in my daughter 4th grade classroom using hearts that had been cut into two piece puzzles. Each piece had a name written on it. The children had to find their match. 71. Stacking Heart Challenge Making a tower of hearts isn't as easy as you think. This racing game creates shouts, cheers and laughter. You'll need to buy plenty of small conversation hearts, I recommend a few bags. The object of the game is to build the tallest tower in the allotted amount of time (30 seconds should do). When the time is up, the kids count the hearts to see who is the winner. Then the next to players have turn. This game is usually a big enough hit for each player to request another turn. 72. Cupids Surprise Before your party wrap enough small prizes for each guest in a box.


Then wrap it in a larger box, then larger and larger etc. Each box should be wrapped in red, pink or Valentine paper. Sit the guests in a circle and play music while the box is passed around the circle. When the music is stopped, the player holding the box begins to unwrap it. Then, start the music again...the box is passed... music stops...unwrap etc. Continue like this until the final box is unwrapped and the prizes can be passed out. 73. Valentine Charades Before the party write some appropriate phrases, book titles, Song Titles and famous love stories (movies). Place the slips of paper into an empty heart box. Divide the players into teams and have them play facing each other. Each player will draw a slip of paper from the heart box an in turn act out there song, book, title etc. for their respective team. Things to remember: NO talking ! Open hands = book Cranking motion = movie and waving hand before and open mouth = Song Tugging on your ear = "sounds like" Holding up one finger means 1st word etc. Touching your nose indicates correct answer. 74. Valentine's Day Party Tiddly Winks Before the party cut a medium - large paper heart. Provide each player with 4 plastic disks (Tiddly Winks or Bingo markers). Form a circle at a table or on the floor. Place the heart in the center of the circle. When you say "Go" the players "shoot" their disks onto the heart by pressing the edges with another disk - How many can they get to land on the heart? It's harder than you think! - Let the kids try this as many times as they would like. If you have a large group of children, divide players into smaller groups and make more heart "targets".


75. Heart Bean Bag Toss Before your party: Cut a large heart "target" out of paper or fabric. Use a marker to make a large X in the center. Make or purchase three bean bags.

To play - place the heart on the floor and a strip of tape an appropriate distance away. Six feet for young children farther for older children. The players form a line and take turns standing with their toes on the tape. Toss the bean Bags one at a time attempting to hit the X. 76. Chocolate Kiss Mouse Valentine's Day Craft Say "Be Mine!" with a sweet chocolate kiss mouse valentine craft. valentine heart, homemade valentines

Materials Two wrapped chocolate kisses 2x2 squares of construction paper, fun foam, or felt Thread Wiggle eyes very small pom-pom craft glue Directions Cut a 1-2 inch tall heart from the paper or fun foam. Place it between the two kisses ( bottom to bottom) and secure them with glue. This is the mouse body and the heart makes the ears. Remove one of the paper tags to make room for the face. Then use your craft glue to attach wiggle eyes, thread whiskers and a pom-pom nose. The other paper tag is the tail. TIP: Using paper will speed up drying time and makes for easier heart cutting. 77. More Valentine Crafts Valentine’s Day Crafts

http://www.marthastewart.com/valentines-day-holiday-crafts?rsc=hol_Homepage_Homepage

http://www.marthastewart.com/valentines-day-holiday-crafts?rsc=hol_Homepage_Homepage


Valentine’s Day Around The World

Valentine’s Day celebrations vary from country to country. Spend the week before Valentine’s Day learning about other countries’ traditions. You might read one each day. 78. Denmark Denmark is known for Danish valentine cards. These lovers card when held up to the light shows the picture of a lover handing his love a gift. While some Danish people exchange poems and candy snowdrops on this day the others send love notes. These are love notes called 'gaekkebrev', on which the sender signs his or her name in dots. If the receiver guesses the right name he will get a candy egg at Easter time. 79. Scotland Valentine’s Day is celebrated as a grand festival in Scotland. Equal numbers of young unmarried men and women participate in the festival. Each of them will write their name on a piece of paper. The names are placed in two different hats as one for men and the other for ladies. Both of them may end up with two different valentines but the rules states that the young man should stick to the valentine who has chosen him first. After the group split into couples, gifts are given to ladies. The ladies then wear the name of their valentine in their heart or on their sleeve. This festival usually leads to marriages or romances at the end of the day. 80. Korea Koreans celebrate with the traditional gift of candy from females to males on February 14. Men give their gifts to their beloved only after a month on " white day". This day many men confess their love for the first time to their sweethearts. Koreans have kept aside a special day as "Black day" on April 14, for people who did not receive anything for Valentines Day. On this day all singles eat Jajangmyun, a Chinese style noodles in black sauce together. 81. Taiwan Due to westernization February 14 is celebrated as Valentines Day in Taiwan. However they also celebrate a traditional valentines day on July 7of the lunar calendar. On this day men get expensive bouquet of roses and other flowers to their beloved.


Number of roses in the bouquet, foretell a message to their sweetheart. According to the Taiwan tradition, one red rose means, " my only love", eleven rose mean, " my favourite", ninety-nine roses mean, " love you forever", and 108 roses means, " Marry me". 82. Slovenia Slovenia is one of the top valentine destinations. Who would have thought that? Learn more about Slovenia. * They believe that the birds propose to each other or marry on this day. * Slovenian's believe that on February 14 plants and flowers start growing. They have an interesting proverb on this fact that states, "Valentine - First Saint of spring" * Slovenians first work on the field as Valentine's Day marks the beginning of spring. * However the traditional love day of Slovenia is not February 14, but March 12, the Saint Gregory's day. 83. Sweden Swedish Paper Heart Valentine Craft Fill this traditional Swedish heart basket with treats for your sweetheart!

Admittedly, these woven hearts are a bit tricky to learn. But, with practice and patience you'll see they aren't so hard after all. Once you get the hang of it, you can experiment with felt, craft foam, fabric etc. This project will be easier for kids 10

and up. Materials To make a woven Heart Basket, you will need: Two pieces of paper, each a different color ( craft foam, fabric or felt will also work) pencil scissors

Directions First cut two paper rectangles from colored construction paper and round off the ends. The exact dimensions of the rectangles don't matter as long as the two pieces are the the same size. You may want to start with larger pieces while learning.


Fold the strips in half and cut 2-3 slits through the folds. Do not cut all the way to the edge. Weaving You'll be weaving "through and around", as opposed to the "over and under" in traditional weaving.

Begin by weaving strip 1 through slit A, around strip B, through slit C. Push this row to the back, where the slits end. Continue the weaving with strip B. Weave it through slit 1, around strip 2, through slit 3. Until this row is finished. Continue until all the rows are done.

To make an optional handle on your basket cut a strip of matching paper and staple the ends to the front and back of your basket.


Valentine Websites Read Valentine history & traditions http://www.pictureframes.co.uk/pages/saint_valentine.htm Valentines Crafts & Recipes http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/val/ Coloring Pages, Printables, Crafts & more http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/valentines/ Valentines Links http://www.dltk-holidays.com/valentines/links.html

http://www.pictureframes.co.uk/pages/saint_valentine.htm

http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/val/

http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/valentines/

http://www.dltk-holidays.com/valentines/links.html


OTHER TITLES BY RANGER PRESS http://www.HowToHomeschoolMyChild.com

Homeschooling Christmas Celebration Ideas by Kerry Beck Get a free Advent Countdown at this site: http://ChristmasCelebrationIdeas.com/

Raising Leaders, Not Followers by Kerry Beck Do you follow the same model of education you were taught in school? Break the habit and change your children's education. Cultivate wisdom and virtue, by getting off that conveyor belt and raise your children to be Christian leaders of tomorrow. Kerry Beck shows how you can change your own education models and successfully raise your children to use wisdom and virtue, to love learning and to have the tools to learn for the rest of their lives. Most importantly, children should be taught "how to think" so they can lead as Christian entrepreneurs and statesmen. Give your children the excellent, strong education they deserve and you will prepare them to be wise and virtuous leaders for Christ.

3 books: Raising Leaders, Not Followers Teach Your Children "How to Think" with Mentoring Hop Off the Conveyor Belt - Tips & Stories

2 CDs: Raising Leaders, Not Followers Teach Your Child “How to Think” with Mentoring

(www.Raising-Leaders.com)

Giving Your Children an Entrepreneurial Spirit How To Start A Business…for Families & Teens -DVD course by Stephen Beck Unleash The Secret Techniques, Profit Strategies and the Successful Marketing Tactics Which Took Me 20 Years To Learn...And Hand Them Over To You In 8 Hours Of The Most Complete Information Driven Business Collection Ever Put Together 8 hours of workshops on 4 DVDs, 1 CD-ROM with workbook & resources (http://stephenbeck.com/how-to-start-your-own-business-dvd/)

A Quick Study in Debt Bundle Package by Stephen Beck The Bible refers more to the subject of money than any other topic. Where will your children learn these important lessons about finances? Are you teaching them about finances and debt before they find themselves neck-deep in student loans, a mortgage and a $15,000 credit card debt? Use this quick study to effectively teach your children the biblical view of finances and debt. (http://stephenbeck.com/teaching-your-children-about-debt-and-finances/#)

The Merchant Maiden: Earning an Income Without Compromising Convictions by Crystal Paine Drawing upon personal experience, Crystal Paine encourages young women and their families with Scripture, advice, suggestions, personal testimonies, wisdom, and practical ideas. Not just for unmarried women, this booklet is a treasure trove of information for any woman who desires to earn an income while still being a "keeper at home." (http://www.curriculumconnection.net/merchantmaiden.htm)


http://christmascelebrationideas.com/

http://www.raising-leaders.com/

http://www.curriculumconnection.net/merchantmaiden.htm


Spiritual

A Father's Stew by Stephen Beck In an age where fathers are separated from their families for most of the day, how can we fulfill the biblical mandate to train our children when "you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up”? What is God’s provision for raising godly children and what are our responsibilities? Read on to discover God's vision for fathers as we are challenged from the Scripture to balance the areas of family, work and ministry and to blend these three ingredients to form a godly stew, a sweet smelling aroma to God. http://www.fathersstew.com/

Published by Ranger Press &

Curriculum Connection P.O. Box 4348, Bryan, TX 77801

979-703-5724

www.HowToHomeschoolMyChild.com www.StephenBeck.com


Documents

83 Ways to Celebrate Valentines Day · really depended on how much money we had to spend that year. Once Hunter was here, Steve always picked up something special for him. Sometimes