In honor of Valentine’s Day I decided to get creative and put together a design with the theme of love in mind. I started with the idea of combining a quotation with an image but I didn’t have a specific concept right away.

But you know when you hit on something and it just clicks? Like meeting the person you know you’ll spend the rest of your life with, maybe? I had a mini moment like that where I realized that these words and this photograph were made for each other and the end result is close to my heart.

Design: Laura Messersmith; Image: Karin von Voigtlander — Design: *Laura Messersmith*; Image: *Karin von Voigtlander*

I often tell my husband Mike that he’s my favorite friend., which if I were a poet might sound more like the first few lines of I love you much(most beautiful darling) by e.e. cummings which are so, so lovely and expressive. It’s one of my favorites and I think it’s a perfect match for this image. The picture was taken four years ago in May 2010 just before Mike and I walked to the church for our wedding ceremony. I vividly remember standing on the dock under the blue sky as we laughed and Mike threatened to 'fall in.' I can’t thank our wonderful photographer Karin von Voigtlander enough for capturing such a perfect shot of that memory.

I hope you’re feeling loved today and I hope you tell at least one other person - a spouse, B.F., G.F., B.F.F., parent, sibling, snuggly pup (yes, they count as people) - that you love them too. Happy Valentine’s Day!