Life and Whatnot,  Marriage

VALENTINE’S DAY STORIES–week of love


heart1The day of love has flown by yet again. Can you believe it?

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So, what did you do for Valentine’s Day? Do tell.

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I remember my favorite Valentine’s day story. It was February 14th, 1996.

I was huddled over a Star Wars puzzle waiting for my sweet boyfriend to show up. He had a monster exam the next day, so I was stuck at home on Valentine’s Day killing time until he could take a study break and come visit me.

I got the call that he was on his way. I beamed with excitement despite the fact that it would be a short visit since it was only a study break.

Blasted exams. There should be a rule, no exams the day after a major holiday **smile**

So, he shows up and saunters over to the little boom box I had in my tiny apartment. Seriously, it was like 600 sq foot apartment.

He pops in a CD.

I’m like, “Whatchya doin’?”

“Oh, just putting it on a good song.”

Soon Mariah Carey’s, “Anytime You Need a Friend” started flowing through the tiny speakers. I knew that was one of his favorite songs mostly because I liked Mariah Carey.

“Hey, let’s dance.”

Ok, now this was gettin’ weird. But I brushed the thought aside. He was just trying to be romantic on Valentine’s Day, right?

So, we’re swaying to the soft music, and after a bit he slows us to a stop. I look up and he descended onto one knee.

I almost fell over.

He raised a tiny, opened box toward me. I saw a diamond sparkle and immediately gasped. My hands cupped my cheeks. I think they were on fire.

He nodded and said the most wonderful words my ears have ever heard, “Will you marry me?”

I don’t remember my exact response, but I know “yes” was involved.

He slid the precious ring over my knuckle and it felt so natural, just like saying yes to spending the rest of time with him.

“Oh, and the diamond is from my mom’s engagement ring,” he said. “We just picked out a different setting.”

That did it. I bawled.

To have such a strong momento of love on my finger, and from a marriage that had already flown past the two decade mark, I was honored.

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So, 13.5 years of marriage later….the love story continues.

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12 Comments

  • Alison Bryant

    Yay! Love it. Surprises like that are the best. My husband proposed on Valentine’s Day, too–a complete surprise as far as the timing goes–a year after you got engaged. This year? The shooting range (my idea) and a favorite coffee house. Very romantic in its own way.
    Tell your husband, “Well done!” You got a keeper. =)

  • Gwen Stewart

    Aw, that’s a great story, Lynn. You’ve been married about as long as my dear hubby and I, fourteen years. Just gets better as time goes on, as we have more life to share. I can tell just by the way you “write” your hubby that you feel the same way about him. 🙂

    Have a great day!

  • Tracy Keck

    Lynn, that is so perfect! Man, I wish I had a better engagement story! (See my random facts about me post for more info.) This is so sweet. V-day is nice, but we always celebrate it in a low key manner – we do the whole romance thing for the Anniversary – 7 years coming up in just under 6 weeks. Thanks for sharing this lovely and romantic story with the rest of us! Blessings!

  • Rosslyn Elliott

    What a beautiful story! I love proposal stories. I even love the ones that are less romantic, when the couple laughs together about how unromantic the man was. My favorite in this genre is my friend who told his beloved to look in his glove compartment, where he had stuffed the ring. Then they went to Burger King. 🙂