Valentine's Day: the time of year that everyone loves to hate (or for some of us, hate to love). It's the time of year when everything at Wal-Mart turns pink and red, when the prices of roses and chocolates skyrockets, when even the least annoying couples give in to all of the lovey-dovey stuff. Valentine's Day brings out the best in some people and the worst in others, but those of us with a significant other eat this holiday up.

For those of you with someone to share this holiday with, here's how you know that person is your true Valentine:

1. You're a better you when he's around.

Does the person you're with make you the best version of yourself? Is he constantly pushing you to move past obstacles and reach goals? Are you more patient, more forgiving, more sincere and more understanding than you were before this relationship?

2. You're safe.

You rest easy in the fact that he loves you. You aren't alone anymore. Your vulnerability won't be taken advantage of anymore. When your world falls apart, you have someone to hold you tight. You have someone to love you at your most unlovable moments.

3. You're home.

"Home" is no longer a place. It's not your apartment at school. It's not the house you grew up in. It's not a city. Home is a person. It's the arms that hold you both when times are good and when times are bad. It's the place you and your significant other are when you're together. Cue music: home is wherever I'm with you.

4. You daydream about him like the middle school girl you are.

Do you find yourself sitting in class thinking about him? Do you think about how cute he is when he plays with dogs or when he slides around on hardwood floors pretending to be a ninja? Do you think back to funny moments y'all have shared and just start smiling?

5. There's trust in the relationship.

People always talk about "unconditional love," which outside of God's love for us, just doesn't exist. Yes, you can love someone like crazy, but there's always a condition to true love: faithfulness. I'm sorry, but if you cheat on him, you don't love him. If he cheats on you, he doesn't love you. Stay faithful for each other so that your trust in each other will never disappear or be betrayed.

6. You know him so well but you just want to know more.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. His favorite color is green. He eats his steaks rare. He likes his Sprite with a little bit of orange Fanta in it. He likes to watch cartoon movies like "Big Hero Six" and "How to Train Your Dragon" more than he likes to watch horror movies. Surely there's something else to learn about him! You want to know everything: the childhood events that made him the person he is now, his exact thoughts about political issues and the future, etc.

7. You're curious about him and what he's doing at any given moment.

Why? It's not because you're a crazy, nosy girlfriend. It's just because he's on your mind. You're always hoping he's having a good day or that things are going well for him. Is he at the gym playing basketball? Is he watching the big game with the boys? Hopefully so, because you just want him to be having a good time.

8. You share the load.

You both do chores. You both cook. You both get groceries. Here's one: You both pay. Yes, I'm a girl and yes, I love when boys are chivalrous. However, what's the harm in splitting the bill every now and then? Is it really offensive when he asks you to buy your own lunch one day?

9. Independence and dependence at the same time.

Newsflash, everyone: Space is OK. You have to know how to survive with and without him nearby. You have to know how to be OK without seeing him every day of the week. You have to be your own person. You have your own tests to study for and your own job to get to every day, just like he does. What's really important is learning how to balance the independence of your everyday life and the dependence of a relationship.

10. You're comfortable (and I don't just mean when you're cuddling).

It's like a breath of fresh air being with him. You don't have to wear five pounds of makeup every time you're together, you don't have to curl your hair for a movie night and you don't have to pretend that salad at dinner actually filled you up. You're comfortable enough to look like you just woke up when he's around. You're comfortable enough to eat a whole pot of pasta in front of him. You're comfortable enough to be yourself around him. After all, if he's dating you, why not be you?

(Side note: The comfort doesn't stop there. The two of you have figured out every possible way to snuggle up and fall asleep instantly. That, my friend, is comfort.)

11. But not too comfortable.

There's still some excitement in your relationship. Yeah, you don't have to wear loads of makeup every time you go out to eat together and you're past the whole "impress each other" stage, but you still surprise each other with fancy dates, romantic gestures and looking nice for each other.

12. You know that "You're weird" actually means "I love you."

The two of you profess your love for each other all the time. All. The. Time. But, only a percentage of those times actually happen via the words, "I love you." You can pick on each other and play around with each other, but still feel even more loved than before. You know you're with the right guy when every compliment, every favor and every joke can be translated into him telling you he loves you.

13. You know each other's preferences before you say them.

He knows when you say you want one cookie, you mean two. He knows your order at Cook-Out before you even open your mouth. He knows you like the volume on numbers that end in five and zero. He knows you and you know him. You know he likes to sleep with the fan on high. You know he likes back scratches rather than back rubs. You know each other's little quirks and preferences without even having to ask.

14. Their happy is your happy.

Yes, you're your own person and he's his own person, but relationships are a joint effort. You share money, you share memories, you share your house/apartment/condo, but you also share your happiness. Their happiness starts to matter more than your own personal happiness does, because when they're happy, you're happy. You start to make yourself happy by making him happy, and you're both totally OK with that.

15. Cliche, "lovey dovey" stuff isn't gross anymore.

Congratulations! You're the kind of couple you used to make fun of. You love kisses and hugs, you love articles like this one, you love Valentine's Day and you love all things couple-y. You want to stay up late and look at the stars with him. You want to ride the ferris wheel with him. You want him to kiss you in the rain. Don't worry, nothing's wrong with that. I'm right there with you.

16. You know how to "argue."

Your "arguments" are actually discussions. You control your tempers, you don't raise your voices at each other and you don't throw mean comments around just because you're upset. The two of you know how to sit down and settle any issues or disagreements that arise. Compromising and working through issues are such important skills to learn when you're in a relationship.

17. Their family feels like your family.

His little sister comes to you for advice and your brothers talk about football and video games with him. You go shopping with his mom and he helps your dad with yard work. Your families know how important and serious your relationship is, and they've welcomed you both into their loving arms.

18. The boundaries have been broken.

Disclaimer: Everyone burps, farts and poops. Cool, huh? You know what's even cooler? Some couples don't have an issue openly discussing these things or announcing that they need to do those things.

19. Silence doesn't bother you.

Sitting in the room with him, whether y'all are talking or not, should be comfortable. You should be able to sit and get homework done. You should be able to sit in silence without feeling awkward

20. You're just. so. thankful.

All of your prayers end up being you thanking God for him over and over and over. You cherish every moment you have together and every sweet word he says. You can't imagine life without him and you're just so incredibly thankful that you have someone to share laughs with, to be there for you whenever you need him and to love you like no one ever has before.

21. You stop looking at everyone else.

When you're walking through the grocery store and your friend whispers, "Hey, look how cute that guy is," do you agree and actually spend time thinking about that guy? Or do you shrug your shoulders and agree (for the sake of not arguing), but think about your guy in your head instead?

22. You're friends.

What kind of people want to be in relationships (or waste their time in relationships) where they aren't even friends with their significant others? Be with someone who can be your best friend, who can do stupid things with you, who can tell you when you're being ridiculous, and who can confide in you and you in them. Best friends make the best relationships, people.

23. It's not just physical.

Read and repeat: True love isn't only physical. True love runs deeper than touch and lust. If the only connection you want to have with someone is a physical connection, that is not a relationship you need to be in. Today's society teaches people that relationships are all about the empty connection people make from hookups. My, my, are you all deceived. Love is a real connection that fills people up rather than leaving them hollow.

24. "Forever" doesn't freak you out anymore.

Your idea of the future has him being the father of your children or being the person sitting by your hospital bed in 50 years. You aren't scared of planning ahead anymore because even though the future is full of unknowns, you do know you at least have someone to share it with. That being said, nothing is guaranteed. So, cherish the time you have together now, but rest easy in the fact that the future isn't anywhere near as scary anymore.

There is one reason that tops any of those cliche, well-known reasons, though.

25. Your love is biblical.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Is his love patient? Is it love kind? Does his love envy or boast? If your significant other's love the complete opposite of proud, rude, self-seeking or easily angered? Is his love forgiving? Does his love lead you in the right direction or does it bring you closer to the Lord? Does it protect you? Does his love trust in you and hope in you? Does it persevere? Most importantly, does it ever fail you?

So, this Valentine's Day, I wish you all a man that will satisfy both this list and your own personal list of what you want in a relationship. Love is a roller coaster, but goodness gracious, it's a fun one. Happy Valentine's Day!