Hi from Australia! Did you celebrate Valentine’s Day last week? My husband gave me a box of chocolates (our Valentine’s tradition) and I cooked roast pork for the family on Valentine’s night. Unfortunately we’ve both been too busy with our day jobs to squeeze in a Valentine’s date.
My husband shows his love for me every day in small ways. I don’t need a flashy Valentine’s gift to know that he loves me and values our marriage. We did the math and worked out that my husband would have made me more than twenty thousand cups of hot tea or coffee over the years. Each morning he’ll get up early and make our morning coffee. He’ll also iron my work clothes while I’m enjoying my morning coffee. Yes, he spoils me. I love and appreciate all the small things he does for me each day.
On Wednesday Ginger launched our amazing Birthday Bash giveaway. The Grand Prize includes an Inspy Romance throw. The throw was a popular item in the poll we did a few months ago when we requested input for giveaway prizes.
The lucky Grand Prize winner will be able to snuggle up with the throw and their favorite beverage in a pretty Inspy Romance mug. In their Inspy Romance tote they’ll have a notebook, a selection of inspy romance print books, and the Voyager! A fabulous reading experience for the winner of the Grand Prize Bundle!
There are 10 prize bundles to be won – 4 print book bundles – 4 ebook bundles – 1 international print book bundle (for our international reading friends who live outside the US) and the Grand Prize bundle!
Every comment you post on our blog posts during the giveaway period will give you an entry in the drawing. Check out Ginger’s post here for the giveaway terms and conditions and the full list of prizes.
If you’re a winner, you should have received an email from the author in charge of the giveaway. If not, please email us at
prizes at inspyromance dot com
Don’t forget… every comment you make qualifies you to win one of the monthly Amazon card giveaways!
Last Week on Inspy Romance
On Monday, Brenda S. Anderson shared memorable romantic moments!
On Tuesday, Liwen Y. Ho talked about how opposites attract and drive each other crazy! … and giveaway
On Wednesday, Ginger Solomon launched our Annual Inspy Romance Birthday Bash!
On Thursday, Elizabeth Maddrey introduced Christian Romance Reader Gathering!
On Friday, Carol Moncado invited Bethany Turner to visit with us! … and giveaway
On Saturday, Annalisa Daughety talked about characters who feel like friends!
Next Week on Inspy Romance
Monday: Ginger Solomon: Spotlight – Soft Kisses and Birdsong by Lynnette Bonner
Tuesday: Lee Tobin McClain: Did you ever have a really bad date?
Wednesday: Deb Kastner: Digging Deeper
Thursday: Marion Ueckermann
Friday: Elizabeth Maddrey: A Conversation with the Baxter Brothers (with #giveaway)
Saturday: Autumn Macarthur: A peek inside a writer’s (messy) brain OR When Plot Bunnies Attack…
New Releases
February 2018
Wishes on Wildflowers (Urban Farm Fresh Romance 4) by Valerie Comer
The Heart Collector (Madison Creek Town 3) by Jackie Castle
His Father’s Son (Sweetapple Falls) by Autumn Macarthur (previously released in the Cherish boxed set)
March 2018
Donuts & Daydreams (Baxter Family Bakery 3) (Arcadia Valley Romance 15) by Elizabeth Maddrey
The Reluctant Groom (Brides of Seattle 1) By Kimberly Rose Johnson
Second Choice (Belikarian Weddings 2) by Ginger Solomon (re-release)
Love’s Harmony (First Street Church Romances) by Jackie Castle
A complete list of Inspy Romance books by our authors is always available on our BOOKS tab. Find our audiobooks and our permanently free e-books, as well as new releases, on our NEWS tab.
A fun loving Aussie girl at heart, Narelle Atkins was born and raised on the beautiful northern beaches in Sydney, Australia. She has settled in Canberra with her husband and children. A lifelong romance reader, she found the perfect genre to write when she discovered inspirational romance. Narelle's contemporary stories of faith and romance are set in Australia and international locations.
Hi Narelle, your husband sounds like a winner-ironing!! We have never really been into Valentine’s Day, we both prefer to make it real each day:) so we went mountain biking yesterday, then we all went out for dinner tonight. I love the simple things that say I love you, I understand you:)
Blessings:)
How true that love is shown through the little things done every day not just a present on one specific day on the calendar. You are lucky he irons for you!?
Valentine’s Day this year was mostly for the kids to have fun at school. My kindergartener went to a girls’ party and had a blast. Hubby and I both worked late….
Hi Narelle, I agree love is best shown all year long. My hubby cooks breakfast for me and packs my lunch. He irons too! He always warms the car for me and drops me off and picks me up at the door in cold weather. I love and appreciate these simple things that show love.
Blessings
Hi Wemble, Yes, I really appreciate not having to do the ironing! Mountain biking and dinner sounds like a fun way to spend your weekend. The simple things are often the best. Blessings :)
Hi lraines78, I will confess I’m not particularly good at ironing, and nowhere near as good at it as my husband. I’m very fortunate he’s happy to do his own ironing plus mine :)
Hi MJSH, I’m glad the kids had a fun Valentine’s Day. :) I think Valentine’s Day is a bigger deal for kids in the US than it is in Australia. A girls party sounds like fun! Mid-week dinners and celebrations are difficult to organise when you’re juggling work commitments.
Hi Pat, Your hubby sounds like a keeper, too! My hubby enjoys cooking as well. This morning for breakfast he made my favorite strawberry pancakes (sliced fresh strawberries added to the homemade pancake batter). Yay for the ironing! And the door-to-door lifts during winter. The small things really do make a difference. Blessings :)
Hi Narelle! I agree love is best shown year around through random acts of kindness (also this week), but in the frigid north with gloomy sky and gray messy snow piles Valentine’s Day breaks the monotonea of our long winter. After shoveling snow for almost an entire week, even Mother Nature gave us a gift for Valentine’s Day – no snow and bright sunny skies. For Valentine’s Day I buy cards and small gifts for the entire family. As a retirees, this year hubby bought me a bouquet of mini carnations and a heart of Ferrero Rocher hazelnut chocolates. Since we haven’t been on vacation since 2015 and I have cooked over sixteen thousand meals in our married life , he treated me to dinner out each evening after watching our granddaughters ages one and four. Two nights we ate with white tablecloths and red napkins. Festive. Best wishes.
This post makes me smile! I told my hubby that all I want is him, nothing flashy – just time with him. I, too, am very thankful for all the little ways my hubby shows his love for me. He makes my coffee in the morning, and sometimes my tea later in the day. Sometimes he cooks, sometimes cleans, often he does the dishes, but all those are the little things of his love. He loves me unconditionally, prays for me, protects me, and laughs or cries with me. That’s what I cherish most – him. Just him.
Happy Sunday! I agree that it is far better to little things to have someone show consistently through the small things that he cares. Ironing is not one of the ways my husband shows he cares – I don’t think he even knows how to turn it on! :)
Yes, Narelle, simple is best! You have a keeper there..as I am sure you know! Me too!
Your husband sounds like he treasurers you for sure. Mine would do that if he was home too. He’s a regional truck driver, but he still will come home and take over dinner prep one night for me, help with dishes and do laundry. If we ironed, he’d do that too.
Coffee and ironing! Sounds lovely.
I think you’re husband is a wonderful example for your children. My Dad also irons for Mom and, recently I walked in to find him painting her toenails. (She had compression fractures in her back and could no longer do it herself). They have been married for 58 years ❣️
So, although I have no Valentine, I know there are fabulous and faithful men out there.
Many blessings,
Linda
We don’t really celebrate Valentine’s Day. We went to get a few groceries and ate lunch out. Have a blessed day.
My husband does our grocery shopping! I’d much rather have that (and him!) than a bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolates once a year. I’ve seen my husband iron and although I don’t like to iron, he won’t be doing mine! If anyone does a worse job of it than me, it’s him!
We celebrated with brother and sister in love.
The entire week was a week of blessings for both of us.
The best blessing was our showing love by sharing more housework together and telling each other of our love.
We are Seniors and the above were extra special blessings.
We had a quiet day and then went out to dinner together. We had family over for dinner for my daughters birthday Saturday. My youngest brought her new baby. We all enjoyed seeing each other.
Hi Renate, I’m glad you enjoyed lovely weather for Valentine’s Day. Your dinners out sound like a lovely break. :) Our gloomy, cold month is August, but where I live (approx 1900 ft above sea level) we often have gorgeous clear and crisp winter days where you can feel the sun on your skin. I can understand why Valentine’s Day is a welcome change in routine in your part of the world. Blessings. :)
Hi Becky, Your hubby sounds similar to mine, and definitely a keeper. :) My hubby also cooks and cleans and we work together to get things done. All those little things add up, and make all the difference. :)
Hi Elizabeth, I’m not 100% certain my husband would want me to iron his shirts, lol. If he was injured and couldn’t iron, it’s unlikely he’d tell me I’m not good at it. He’s taught our teen daughter to iron, and she was does a pretty good job. :)
Hi Jackie, yes, he’s a keeper and I’m glad you’re hubby is a keeper, too! :)
Hi Andrea, I’m the one who tends to travel more for work, and I sometimes work evenings. When I’m away he picks up the slack and takes care of everything. I’m glad your husband is able to help out when he’s home. :)
Hi Amy, yes, it is lovely. :)
Hi Linda, yes, definitely, he’s a great example and role model for our teens. How lovely that your dad takes such good care of your mom. 58 years – wow! There are many great men out there who are loyal and caring and faithful. Blessings. :)
Hi Lucy, It’s a nice treat to have lunch out. Blessings. :)
Hi Sherri, lol about the ironing! My husband will also help out with grocery shopping. I try to involve my teens as well, although it can get expensive when I take them along and they see all the extra things they’d like me to buy! :)
Hi Linda, I’m glad you enjoyed a blessed Valentine’s week. :)
Hi Diana, I’m glad you had a chance to spend time with your family and enjoy your new grand baby :)
My husband gave me a cool mist vaporizer for Valentine’s Day.
I’m sick with asthmatic bronchitis and that is what the doctor recommended , plus shots, pills, and a trip to Walgreens.
Hi Janet, I hope the vaporizer helps you to get well soon. Blessings. :)
I’m late commenting but I wanted to chime in anyway :-) Looking forward to a fabulous week here on Inspy Romance.
Narelle, my husband and I are the same way, we’ve spent 22 Valentines together and value time spent doing things we love. A nice dinner, exchanging greeting cards and conversation is always on the agenda. But I can probably fill quite a few books on 22 years of little things we do for each other on a daily basis :-) Even though he doesn’t drink coffee, he sets my coffee maker up every night for me so all I have to do is turn it on in the morning. When he comes home from work, I greet him with a kiss and he talks about his day with me. In the evenings we enjoy sitting on the sofa either watching TV or reading. It’s the comforting things we habitually do that brings peace and contentment to our marriage! :-)
Thank you for the recap! And yes I celebrated Valentine’s Day. I sent out some Valentine packages so that was fun. I don’t have a Valentine so sending out the parcels made me for the first time enjoy Valentine’s Day being alone. It was a nice day for me.
Hi Trixi, I loved hearing about how your husband takes care of you. Those daily small acts of love and time spent together. Beautiful. :)
Hi Sabrina, I’m glad you enjoyed a nice Valentine’s Day. Gifts are fun. :)