Valentine's Day has an interesting history for me.  When I was a young child, Valentine's Day was a source of angst in Elementary School. Back then, the common thing for everyone to do was to get a 30-pack of Disney Assorted Valentine's Day cards and give them out to their classmates.  They had Snow White, Mickey, Mini, Donald...and the dreaded Goofy card.  These cards were given out by the child to the classmates, under direction from the teacher with Snow White being given to the person that you liked the most and Goofy being the one given to the kid that you did not have a crush on.  Yearly, I suffered the trauma of receiving the most Goofy cards.

   As time passed, and my dating life never developed in High School...or College, Valentine's Day was always a day I didn't care for because I didn't have anyone who cared for me romantically. I dreaded it and was happy when it passed. It was lonely because my friends all seemed to have Valentine's plans, and I did not.  At least, the shame of hiding the Goofy cards and sneaking them into a trash can was behind me, but still, it was not my favorite day.

   So, these days, when I have the most wonderful wife that anyone could have, I wish I could go back in time and sit with that child, teenager, twenty-something-year-old guy to let him know that it would turn.  

    Jennifer and I are so fortunate to have found each other. We both make each other laugh, smile and are there when tears may fall.  What I felt was impossible for a long portion of my life is the reality now that my Queen loves me as I love her.  Seasons change, and I am so thankful for our harvest of love.

    We hope you enjoy these stories of how your neighbors met.  We wish you a very Happy Valentine's Day and hope that your Valentine's cards and gifts are not Goofy.