Valentine's Day

Amy and I did not do something big for Valentine's Day yesterday and we did not get each other anything either. We planned on taking it easy. Since it fell on a Saturday this year we decided to go out for lunch somewhere then go catch a flick.

But I did surprise her yesterday morning with a little classic gift. A gift all of us guys did back in school when we liked a girl. I made her a mixtape.

I labeled it "Amy's V-day MixTape." Of course we are not using actual tapes any more...since that time has been long gone for a few years now. So all week in my free time I would think of songs that reminded me of Amy, silly songs we would like, or songs simply about love. I would take note of them then get on my iTunes and add it to the playlist. Yesterday before we headed out for the day I grabbed her iPod and loaded the list onto it and we listened to it all day until we got home.

She loved it! Mainly b/c I had not made her a list since we were dating back in college and she liked it then too. So it was nostalgic for both of us. And we got to sing along and enjoy the tunes together.

Here is the 'Mixtape'
Track One: I Believe In A Thing Called Love by The Darkness
"...just listen to the rhythm of my heart." This song is such a jam...I always love listening to it and singing out loud. And we did just that yesterday in the car. This was one of the silly song choices and it had to be the first track. lyrics. video.

Track Two: Will You Return by The Avett Brothers.
"A pretty little girl with pretty little curls. leans to the side, leans on my mind." Those curls is a trademark look on Amy...something that made me notice her when we were at school. My other favorite lyric to this song is the bridge that says, "I wish you'd see yourself as beautiful as I see you. Why can't you see yourself as beautiful as I see you?" Every lady needs the reassurance that they are beautiful and I hope I always tell her that she is beautiful to me. lyrics. video.

Track Three: God Only Knows by The Beach Boys.
"...what good would living do me." A classic song which speaks volumes for my dependence on Amy. I could not imagine my life without her...so God only knows what it would be like. I don't know that I would ever like to know. lyrics. video.

Track Four: Valentine by Derek Webb & Sandra McCracken.
I picked this song b/c of the title, the music is great, and we love Derek and Sandra. I believe this might have been written for their kid...maybe? But we both really like it and I thought I'd add it to the list. lyrics. listen.

Track Five: Love Never Fails by Brandon Heath.
Just a song about love as quoted from Corinthians 13:8. It is a great song and we could always use the reminder of God's love for us and the love we should all share with each other. B/c it never does fail and it will survive long after any of us. lyrics. listen.

Track Six: Please, Before I Go by Derek Webb.
"like an addict to his fix, so am I to your sweet lips. the wife of my youth, my drug of choice." Those words speak so much about Amy to me and they ring ever so true. We do everything together. I know some people can't spend all the time with your spouse before they kill each other, but we do a lot together, we always have fun, and she love each other's company. Also doesn't hurt that I love the music to this song...especially the way it starts off with the horns that remind me of Johnny Cash's Ring of Fire. lyrics. listen.

Track Seven: The One I Love by David Gray.
This is a song that we both enjoy by David Gray. The lyrics are a little out there like "tell the repo man...that you're the one I love" but we really like the music and the lyrics are just there to help us along the way. lyrics. video.

Track Eight: Daring Daylight Escape by Caedmon's Call.
Another track written by Derek Webb which we both really like. If any of your know the story of Amy and I while we were dating, you know she made me jump through a lot of hoops. And I like how in the lyrics to this song he says he's going to have to leave town if she won't say yes to being with him. And I could totally see where those lyrics came from...but fortunately for me...Amy finally came around and we've been on this adventure since 2001. lyrics.

Track Nine: I'm Yours by Jason Mraz.
A newer, current track that I'm pretty sure anyone who has turned on the radio has heard. We are big fans of Jason Mraz ever since his debut album. When this new album came out we got it and enjoyed it right off the bat. Amy listens to lyrics first as where I listen to music first with new music...she said that this song should be ours b/c of one little lyric in the middle of the song that says..."Scooch on over closer, dear. And I will nibble your ear." That is a quirk of mine. I always play with her ears and if we are close enough, I nibble on it too. May be a little too much info for some of you...but it's like "our thing." hee. lyrics. video.

Track Ten: Question by Old 97's.
A simple love song about a guy asking his girl THE question. This is a classic Old 97's song that will always be a favorite for both of us. Our engagement was not a huge extravagant event and this song is one that tells us they don't all have to be. Because as long as the outcome is a 'yes' ...it's still the same question without throwing down a bunch of money (on the event, that is. The ring however, is what you will throw down a bunch of money for). lyrics. listen (you'll have launch the audio player and to skip to the song).


There you have it folks...I hope you can listen to the songs if you want to. My first blogged playlist and I hope to follow up with qite a few more. If you know me, you know I am a huge Beatles fan and I realize that there are no Beatles songs chosen...but I wanted to choose outside of the Beatles since so many of their songs are love songs and ballads.

I hope you enjoyed your Valentine's Day b/c we did and we enjoyed listening to this list a few times through. Until next time...