Me, my brother, and my sister at a family Valentine’s Day celebration. (Note the heart-shaped cake.)

Hi, SEers. Staci here.

Valentine’s Day is tomorrow, and many of you who know I write romance might think it’s only fitting that my scheduled post falls nearest this holiday.

Let me stop you right there. I don’t consider this a holiday.

When I was little, my parents celebrated love of family more so than romantic love for each other. We always had a heart-shaped cake, and we all got gifts. Little things, not elaborate ones. As the baby of the family, I was beholden to my mother’s whims, and as such, I was often required to wear red (rolling my eyes and groaning at this, but sharing the photo anyway).

Hubby (then boyfriend) on our first Valentine’s Day. I made dinner and dessert (see the pie?) and he bought me roses and a…