I’m interrupting my forgiveness series to shine a light, not necessarily on Valentines Day, but on how to make your spouse feel loved and special. I feel like that’s something we should be doing all throughout the year! Can I get an, Amen?!

Here are some ideas {some I’ve tried, and some I hope to try!} to make your spouse feel special …

1. Write a love note and tuck it into your spouse’s coat pocket to be discovered later in the day.
2. Write in an attractive journal of all the ways you’re thankful for your spouse for at least a month or more, then give it to your spouse to keep, read and enjoy.
3. Write a lovely text message to your spouse. For more ideas check out 5 Texts You Should Send Your Spouse.
4. Take your spouse on a journey down memory lane for date night by visiting several places you and your spouse have loved over the years.
5. Schedule a boudoir photo session. This is a great Valentines {or gift for any occasion} from a wife to her man!
6. Write a love poem or encouraging Bible verse on your bathroom mirror with a dry erase pen the night before, to surprise your spouse in the morning.
7. Have an indoor picnic after you’ve put the kiddos to bed—complete with your favorite beverage and chocolate covered strawberries!
8. If your spouse loves Root Beer Floats, make this cute basket or “29” other fun gifts that I found at Thirtyhandmadedays.com – “Valentine – You Float My Boat!”
9. Make a coupon book filled with all the “Because you want to, I’ll ______ with you!” {Fill with coupons of all the many things your spouse likes to do, but that you’ve either resisted or neglected to do with him or her, promising to “fulfill” when redeemed.}
10. Plan a special mystery date or weekend for the two of you. {Just be sure your spouse will like all of the “mysteries” before you schedule them!}*
11. Play in the snow {that seems to be everywhere this winter}, but “just with your spouse”—snapping photos and sharing your escapades to Instagram, if that would add fun to you and your spouse’s adventure.
12. Intentionally smile, kiss and touch all throughout your day with your spouse. {This one sounds like a no-brainer, but I think it’s often a gift we neglect to give our spouses, especially when we’ve been married for a while!}
13. Sit and visit with your spouse, talking about your day for at least 15 minutes—after dinner, after the kids have gone to bed, or whenever there’s a break in the “action.” To get you going ask your spouse, What was the high and low of your day?
14. Pray together daily—this can be one of the most intimate things you do as a couple, enhancing all parts of your relationship!

What ideas have you tried or want to try with your spouse that could be added to my list?

I’ll be returning to the Forgiveness series in two weeks with, “Does Forgiveness Forfeit Protection?”  So stay tuned!

Here are some other great posts on this subject that I discovered recently around the web. Check them out …

Kim Hall’s – Valentines Day: 5 Tips for a Delightful Celebration

Gaye’s – Creating a Cycle of Love and Joy in Marriage

J’s – 7 Sexy Valentine’s Gifts You Can Make

Tyson Cooper’s – Some Essential Tips for Gifting Flowers and Making an Occasion Even More Special

*My husband took me on a mystery trip to a B&B and discovered that I didn’t like having to share a bathroom with the couple in an adjoining room. Of course, not every B&B has this set up, but it’s worth investigating and thinking through all the aspects of a surprise or mystery trip.

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Joining with  Works for Me Wednesday, To Love Honor and Vacuum, Whimsical Wednesday and Wholehearted Wednesday

Now it’s time  for Wedded Wednesday!

WW rules:

Write in any way you feel inspired about marriage, parenthood or anything that is spiritually encouraging.

1. Enter in a permalink directly to your “blog post” and not the main URL to your blog.
2. Be sure to include a link to “Wedded Wednesday” or add the WW button (code is in MM’s footer) to your current blog post and/or sidebar.
3. Visit and comment on at least one other person’s blog that’s linked up here.
4. Please no offensive or inappropriate content or sexually explicit images!

Optional but encouraged:

1. Consider setting up your Gravatar profile and Disqus Profile with a link to your blog … it makes it so much easier for all of us to find those of you who blog!
2. If you have the time, visit those who visit your blog and comment at their place as well … sort of a “Say it forward.”

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