This is an account of our Valentine's Day from Thomas' perspective. If you want to see it from PJ's, you can click here or watch the video at the end!

This year, for some reason, Valentine’s Day sneaked up on me and completely caught me off guard. We’ve been so busy the last couple of months and it’s honestly hard sometimes to remember what day of the week it is. I posted about buying my husband a card but, sadly and shamefully, that was about the extent of my effort for Valentine’s Day this year.

It’s a sad truth, but after you’ve been with someone for a while, it’s very easy to slack on celebrating even the silliest of holidays. But, we believe no matter how long you’ve been together, it’s so important to put forth that effort, even if you don’t feel like it, because it keeps the romance alive and, for the most part, your relationship strong.

I had planned to make spaghetti for us and watch a Redbox, just spending a quiet night at home, not unlike most of our nights actually. Again, I hadn’t planned much this year and I apologized to PJ and promised I would make it up to him. And I fully intend to!

When I got home from work yesterday, I walked in the front door and gasped; partly because I’m dramatic, but mostly because I was completely surprised! I walked in to a dark house with little candles lit everywhere. In the dining area I could see more candles, glasses of wine, and a card waiting for me.

PJ was there, looking so friggin cute in his short sleeve, pink button down with his hair pushed to the side. He kissed me, handed me a flower, and welcomed me home. Once I got over the initial shock, I heard music playing in he background. Bossa Nova, our favorite to listen to while we cook/eat. He told me to sit down at the table as he went into the kitchen and came back with a plate full of spaghetti (!!!) and mushrooms, salad, and a basket of bread. I told him that I was the one who was supposed to make spaghetti tonight! He smiled.

There was a little heart shaped note that said “Feed Me” on it. We ate and drank and talked about our day. It was dark and stormy outside which made for the perfect cozy, warm atmosphere inside. I was grateful. I may or may not have cried a few times, too, but how could I not?

When we were finished eating, he told me to stay there while he hurried upstairs, promising me there’s more. After a few minutes, he said I could come upstairs. So as I walked up the stairs, holding on to the railing that was wrapped in twinkling lights, I could smell peppermint and hear the thunder and rain from outside. But it wasn’t from outside, it was from Alexa! When I get upstairs there are more candles and an entire massage table waiting for me with soft nature-inspired music playing in the background while the essential oil diffuser spreads the relaxing aroma around the room. He handed me another heart shaped note that said “Relax Me”. Y’all. This man!!! On closer inspection I see that he turned out desk into a massage table by wrapping the cushions from the couch in some comfy flannel sheets. He’s never been short on creativity. He told me to undress to my comfort level as he left the room for a moment. When he returned he treated the whole thing like a serious, professional massage, mimicking the way the professionals did it at our recent couples massage. I was so impressed I couldn’t stop smiling the entire time.

After the massage, he handed me another heart shaped note that said “Seduce Me” and that’s where we skip a few details in the story and head to the next part of the night! He leads me into the upstairs bathroom (that our guests use, but we never do so it felt like a real treat) and I see a bath being drawn, with bath salts, another glass of wine, and rose petals. There was another heart shaped note that said “Bathe Me”. He said the bath was just for me and pointed to a change of clothes on the table that would be waiting for me when I was finished. He told me he would be downstairs whenever I was finished and to just relax for a while. I never take baths, but the rose petals in the tub mixed with the wine and candles made for an especially relaxing bath. Did I mention there were more twinkly lights? This man knows the ways to my heart.

When I was finally finished, I made my way downstairs to find him in the living room. He kissed me and said there was one more thing and handed me a “Treat Me” note. He bent down and reached under the sofa and pulled out this huge thing of CHOCOLATE AND VANILLA MINI CUPCAKES. If you know me, you know cupcakes are my biggest weakness, so it was such a fitting end to a perfect night. I laughed, and we ate a couple of them together on the couch.

I don’t know what my life would look like without PJ’s creativity and love. His acts of kindness weren't extravagant or expensive, but rather personal and thoughtful. One thing we always try to do on social media is to make sure people know that our relationship is not picture perfect, that we argue and get upset and disagree sometimes, and that it’s okay to do all of those things in a healthy way. But we also make sure to convey that those times are worth it to experience the good times like these. The nights that remind you why you fell in love with your husband eight years ago and how, as the years pass, you only love him more because of the life you two have built together and all that comes with that in the future.

I could never thank PJ enough for being mine, my funny little valentine. He has been, to quote Virginia Woolfe, “in every way, all that anyone could be”. We have a saying that we always tell each other and a couple of songs that we play while we dance, but it’s nights like these that will always remind me the most why PJ McKay is forever my guy. PJ: I love you. I’m IN love with you. Thank you for making that night so special. 💫