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A dark cloud had settled over our family in the 14-month period between fall 1993 and the end of 1994. Those long months had been hard emotionally as we dealt with the loss of our three unborn babies.

Packing away Christmas as we entered 1995, I found myself ready to move forward, ready to celebrate. It was a new year and a clean slate. I needed to celebrate something without so many expectations. Simply put, I just wanted to create happy memories with the two children with whom God had blessed us as we moved forward.

Hannah and Christopher were 4 and 2 at the time. Because we planned to homeschool them, they did not attend preschool. Their friends in preschool had various parties throughout the year, so I decided it would be fun to host a Valentine’s Day party of our own to allow Hannah and Christopher to enjoy the fun of exchanging valentines.

Valentine’s Day was a new concept to my children. My son, at age 2, started calling anything that had a heart on it a “T-time one” as hearts soon became synonymous with valentines in his young mind.

It was exciting to plan our party. First, I sent homemade postcard invitations that I had created with rubber stamps to some of their friends. The invitation included the names of all the children being invited so that each child could bring valentines to exchange.

I also made valentine bags that the children would use as mailboxes when they arrived. I bought some ordinary white paper bags with handles, some pink and red paint and a heart-shaped cookie cutter. I dipped the cookie cutter into the paint and used it to leave a heart-shaped image on each bag. I also used an old toothbrush to splatter-paint the rest of the bag; transforming each one. With a calligraphy pen, I wrote each child’s name on the front.

With each preparation, my children became more and more excited. On the day of the party, they placed their own valentines into their friends’ gift bags. I used pink sidewalk chalk to draw hearts leading to the front door. Inside of each heart was a name of a child who was coming to the party.

As each friend arrived, he was welcomed with a sign on the front door that read, “Roses are red, violets are blue. Our party is here and so are you!” Each child, with the help of his mom, distributed the valentines he had made in the bags that were in a row on the floor in the living room.

After distributing the valentines, the children watched a Winnie-the-Pooh video titled “An Unvalentine Day.” It was a treat for my children to be able to watch it with their friends.

I planned a simple craft after the video that consisted of a paper heart for the children to color. The heart had a door that, when opened, revealed a picture of Jesus and the words, “Jesus lives in my heart.”

After a Valentine’s Day snack, I handed each child his bag of valentines so he could enjoy opening them as a group. Each child ended up with several cute cards and candy gifts to take home. I know my own children enjoyed having the valentines to look at for many weeks afterward.

As the children left the party, I was glad that I had taken the time and energy to celebrate something with them. It was fun to have a party besides birthday parties.

During the next year or so, I hosted several other parties for the children, including an Easter egg hunt and a Christmas cookie party. Each one prompted us to celebrate life with our friends as we navigated the time after mourning.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 and 4 say it best as it reminds us: There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.

The year 1995 became our time to dance and laugh once again.

Linda Vestal is a wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend living in Gibsonville. Contact her with comments or story ideas at lindavestal @triad.rr.com.