The Art of the Valentine: a Christian Guide to Home-crafted Romance, Meals, and Traditions

The Art of the Valentine: A Christian Guide to Home-Crafted Romance, Meals, and TraditionsTurn Valentine’s Day from a calendar obligation into a quiet, faith-shaped practice of love. Practical, gentle, and firmly Christ-centered, this book gives everyday households a clear, do-able path to making meaningful celebrations without stress. R. A. Calkins teaches readers how to choose intention, arrange logistics, craft atmosphere, and present homemade meals and gifts that honor spouse, family, and faith. Rather than chasing perfection, the book shows how small, faithful practices—prayerful planning, simple menus, a short liturgy, and thoughtful gifts—build habits of gratitude and service that strengthen marriage and household rhythms over time.Inside you’ll find step-by-step guidance for planning a calm, memorable evening: setting the aim for the night, scheduling and childcare strategies, budgeting and role assignment, and a compact checklist for one week, one day, two hours, and thirty minutes before the celebration. Clear advice on lighting, music, scent, table dress, and dress code helps readers create an atmosphere that supports worshipful presence rather than spectacle.Practical menus and recipes form the heart of the book: three complete menus (Elegant, Comfort, Brunch) with grocery starters, cooking timelines, and make-ahead tricks so a great meal doesn’t mean a frantic night. Recipes are accessible, seasonal, and chosen for impact—examples include a simple seared salmon with lemon-butter sauce, an easy chocolate mousse, and a bright non-alcoholic pomegranate sparkler with optional adult alternatives. Each menu includes timing notes so the host can enjoy the meal instead of working through it.The Art of the Valentine goes beyond food to teach giftmaking and shared practices that communicate time and devotion: letter formats and memory jars, coupon books of practical promises, small framed Scripture with short prayers, handmade sweets, and a ready-to-open “date night” box. The book gives conversation prompts, a short liturgy for couples and families, ways to include children while protecting adult time, and ideas for outward-facing celebrations—service projects, care packages, and encouraging notes for neighbors. Above all, the book emphasizes humility and grace: plans are templates, not rules; the central aim is presence, thanksgiving, and mutual flourishing.Ideal for married couples, parents, and household hosts who want Valentine’s Day to reflect their convictions, The Art of the Valentine is a compact manual for turning one evening—or an annual tradition—into an enduring practice of love, worship, and hospitality.