Monday, January 14, 2008

Remember falling in love with your forever love?

My most memorable Valentine's "gift" was not necessarily a thing one can name. It was more like magic.... My sweetheart has 11 brothers and sisters who all have a boat load of children. My FIL has a family party building that we gather in for family parties. I met my honey in January so the first family party I was invited to was the Valentine Party at the Earls' party building. I was so nervous that I played hooky from work that day and worried myself sick over whether to get him something with hearts and love "crap" on it. I opted out of the love "crap" and bought him a board game to play with his 6 children and my 2 children. Imagine my surprise when we got to the party, he had arranged us a "quiet" table in the corner in a room full of over 120 family members. At this point he was unaware that I did not go to work that day. As the night went on, he wondered why I had not mentioned the roses that I got at work. I wondered where MY valentine present was and thought how wise I was not to get any hearts and flowers present for him since he obviously was not thinking hearts and flowers about me! Finally he asked if I liked the flowers that he had sent me. "You sent me flowers?" I (am sure I squealed). And with that we laughed and I told him about how I had played hooky because I was nervous and was worried that it was too soon to be thinking hearts and flowers. At the end of the family party, I called security and told them that I was coming in to my office to get my Valentine's flowers since it was Friday and I did not want them to die on my desk. Security let me in and on my desk were beautiful red roses with these little glittery heart picks stuck in them. I floated out of the office and grinned all the way home. Hearts, flowers and love "crap" all in one vase! I was soooo happy. We got married that April 26 after only knowing each other since January and that was almost 11 years ago. He is the absolute best, most important, perfect love of my life. We now have 10 children between us (his 6, my 2 and our 2), 8 grandchildren (1 more coming in Feb) and more love "crap" than any one couple should have. He writes me the sweetest letters. Sadly I got what may be my last written letter from him this past Saturday. His vision is going and has been since July of last year. He started his short term disability from work today. We are going to Duke University to see if there is anything that can be done to restore any of his vision or at least stop the loss of any more of his vision. Thanks for letting me share and remember how it felt to fall in love with my husband and love of my life.
Feel free to share your story here by leaving it in my comments.

2 comments:

Tricia T said...

Stephanie, what a precious story! I wanted to let you know that, while you didn't win the prize on my blog (it went to a gal that entered on ASB), I'd still like to send you a RAK to thank you for playing. Could you send me your address? tjtrax at yahoo dot com

Thanks!! :)

Susan said...

awww ... that's incredibly sweet.