LOVE STORIES-VALENTINES DAY- SPECIAL EDITION!

"I LOVE MY MOM"
I might be the only one not writing about my girlfriend or wife. I really love my mom. She does so much for me, and even though times are hard right now, she makes sure to always be there no matter what. I miss her so much and hope to see her soon.


"MY SON"
The Love Of My Life.


"OUR MIRACLE CHILD"
My “boyfriend” and I had been together for 13 years – we lived together, taught at the same school and ran ultramarathons in our “spare” time. In 1995, my mother was dying of cancer. On our way to visit her in IN we decided that we would get married for her. When we arrived at her house, the first words out of her mouth were, “Will the two of you please get married?” She was thrilled that we had already made that decision. At the time I was 43 … AND the next week … totally unplanned … I got pregnant! We often laugh that our son, XXX, who is now 14, heard that we were going to stay together so he decided to come. His birth was one of LOVE … the love we felt for each other, the love we gave my mother (who died when I was six weeks pregnant) and the love that XXX has brought us and everyone who meets him. He was born in our mountain home with two midwives and ten of our friends. When he was first born, he had a row of red hair on the back of his head. My mom was a redhead. My husband, XXX, looked at that hair and said, “There’s your mother.” She is his guardian angel and though she never met him, we feel the love that she has for him. XXX is a both a miracle and a blessing!


"MY FAMILY"
know that love is real because, i was pregnant in ’07 and i was so very sad and depressed, my boyfriend and i were into a huge fight, my family and i werent getting along and nothing seemed to be going right. Then on the morning of Feb. 14th, my water broke! it was a miracle! My family came together, my fiance and i put our issues aside, and my beautiful little boy was born! So Valentines Day will ALWAYS be a huge day in my life and in my family! It brings happiness and pushed aside all of our troubles :)


"SOMETHING MORE"
When my first niece was born I was totally unprepared for such emotional tidal wave. There she was, tiny, squirmy, and absolutely perfect. Even with my amazing sister and her husband in charge of this little life, and a huge loving and supportive family, I still felt like there had to be something more to help this little girl through her journey in life. I have had several times in life where I question everything, especially God. After her birth I remember wishing, wanting, praying that here was a God that would take over where we couldn’t. Someone or something to protect her and guide her on her way. I wanted to believe so much in soemthing bigger than all of us, and I did. We will do our best to nurture this precious thing, and the rest is up to God.


"MY DAUGHTER"
I have never felt love as intense as the love that comes from being a mother. Everyday my daughter does something that makes my heart swell so big that it could just come out of my chest. It is always little things, like telling her dad or me that she loves us, or just making a silly face. The love I feel for her is indescribable. I love my husband, he is my soul mate, but the love I feel for her is completely different. She is my sunshine.



"LOVE STORY"
It was 5 degrees outside with a wind chill factor of -10 degrees. Biting cold. After working at my mind numbing marketing job, I had been in the career field for some 10 years, I was eager to get home to my two beautiful daughters, and call the day good. As was often the case, my youngest daughter was dropped off at my place of work around 4pm in the afternoon, and at 5pm we would bundle up and walk a couple of blocks to the car park. On this particular day, my daughter, XXX, then 5 years old, clutching my hand so tightly, bracing ourselves against the cold wind, looked up at me and said, “Mummy, even when we are apart, I just look at my skin, and I know that you made me, and I love you.” Needless to say, such amazing words from my 5 year old touch me so that they brought me to tears. XXX & XXX… I love you both, so much! Mum


"SERENITY"
I knew what true love was when my daughter Serenity was born. She may not live up to her name but she is mine. I knew love when I didn’t care what anyone said about her, i knew I had to stick up for her because no one else had the will power to. I knew love was fighting for her and I knew love when she tells me she loves me now.


"THE DAY MY SON CAME INTO THE WORLD!
The day I become a mother had to be the best day of my life! I became pregante after 3 years of training for Olympic Boxing . I only had a year left for the trials . I was always disappointed I never got the chance to challenge my strength . I proved myself wrong when I went into labor …lol He made up for any disappointment I might have had about being a Olympian :) He is now turning 7 years old and and not a day goes by I think that he is my everything and worth it all! He is the love of my life and hope to give him the support to one day make me proud to carry on the challenge for me . He is a very athletic little boy and he has so much love and support to go anywhere or do anything possible :) I never got the support when I wanted so very much to go into trials..and I hope one day Olymics or not he will shine in any light or lime light :) He will make me proud no matter what! He is truly my greatest love story of all time!!! My heart, my love always and Forever my hero my sunshine…



"THE REAL MEANING"
real meaning of True Love can only be felt between Mother and Child. Other Love certainly has meaning but True Love can only be found through the making of another being from inside yourself. Unfortunately, not everyone can experience this feeling of unconditional True Love. If your a Mother, I dont need to explain. If your not, this True Love is something that never goes away, under any circumstance for an entire life time, thats True Love, and until you can experience it for yourself, you wont understand what I mean.

AND ONE MORE FROM A DEAR FRIEND OF GIVING TREE.. AND JUST THE NICEST LOVE STORY.. YIPPEE!! THANK YOU TO ALL WHO LOVE!!

“The Guy in the Photo” Love Story Entry


When I first met XXX it was my first day of work at a fashion newspaper in New York City. I was nervous as hell, knowing full well I would be the youngest person on staff, not even a year out of college. As I was introduced to XXX, he was slouched down in his seat, reading a book, waiting for the day’s stories to be filed.
“XXX, this is XXX. She is joining us today,” our boss XXX said.
XXX looked up from his novel, gave a nod, and quickly returned to his story.
At the time, I was offended. Could he not muster a hello? A ‘nice to meet you’ perhaps? Welcome to the fashion world, kid, where people are rude.
I sat across from XXX, separated only by a half cubicle wall. I could see the top of his head from my desk. As the months wore on, I realized I was seen as the little sister of the group of mostly male editors. I took my lumps, did the grunt work and slowly but surely started to win over my male counterparts with sarcasm — and by getting the job done.
During this time, I was dating YYY, the first love of my life. He was a writer, a college professor and, well, he was adorable. Smart, dark, brooding, but lost, YYY was the complete opposite of XXX. YYY and I had things in common. We were an obvious match. People got it.
At work, I had a photo of YYY and I on my desk. It was of the two of us sitting on my brother’s couch — happy, smiling and in love. Little did I know the significance this photo would hold later...
Though YYY and I seemed so well suited, he was not ready for me. We were both so young and he hadn’t done his living yet. He hadn’t traveled, and I had. He hadn’t found his career yet, and I had. He hadn’t lived on his own yet, and I had. We said goodbye in his mom’s driveway one August night. He was driving to Florida to go to graduate school, and I was OK with it being over. I knew it was right. There was no reason we couldn’t be friends and stay in touch. It was for the best and as long as we could still share our lives as friends, it seemed sad but right.


He, on the other hand, was full of fear. He cried and sobbed in the driveway, begging me to say it wasn’t over. He wanted to be together even with the distance and despite common sense. My protests didn’t go far.
“YYY, you’re only afraid of the unknown. Once you get there, you’ll meet new people and won’t want to be tied down. Long-distance relationships always crash and burn.”
Still, he begged. He insisted! And what do you say to a sobbing man begging you to love him? You give in.
I was touched. This man really loved me. What an emotional display! And as YYY settled into Florida life, he even bought me a plane ticket to come see him in a month. Maybe this would work! But, two days before my trip, he called me at work and broke up with me over the phone.
Through tears, I knew.
“You met someone else, haven’t you?” I asked angrily, and also mortified that this was happening at work, out in the open of the newsroom.
“Yes. Her name is ZZZ.”
“I told you this would happen. This could have been so much easier and now I’m the one left in pain.”
“I know.”
He knew I was right. He apologized, he felt guilty, but in the end, he was done.

September 11, 2001: I watched the second plane barrel into the Twin Towers from my speeding commuter train. We all gasped, glued to the windows on the left side of the car. We’d all been concerned by the first plume of smoke coming out of the first tower, but that second plane made it clear this was not a simple event. This wasn’t an office fire or a tragic accident. It was bigger than our minds could comprehend.
Once in the city, I ran to my office. My cell phone, annoyingly, had been forgotten at home and every pay phone had a line of people waiting to call their families. On 7th Ave, people ran north, covered in dust, screaming in panic.
“Had they run all the way from downtown?” I thought to myself. Yes, they had. And they were running for their lives. Fire trucks took over the streets, hurdling down the avenues. My office was across the street from the Empire State Building, which I eyed nervously. In the office, people were huddled under their desks, the shades were drawn.
“We’re under attack!” someone yelled.
“Stay away from the windows!” said another.
These precautions were futile. If attack came, my desk was not going to protect me.
I called my family and assured them I was OK and watched the chaos, not knowing what to do. People scrambled in the office, seemingly directionless. Most people left and went home. As the only editor on hand, I stayed and waited to see what was going to happen.
“They’re going to crash into the Empire State Building next!” someone screamed. Why not? At the time, we had no reason to think any possibility was out of the question.
The phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Jenn?”
“Yes?” I replied, hardly able to hear with all the panic surrounding me.
“It’s YYY. Thank god you’re all right.”
I sank into my chair.
“Yes, I’m OK.”
“You should get out of the city. Can you leave?”
“I don’t really know right now.”
“There’s all kinds of planes missing. They think there are more targets. You should go.”
He cared. But why was it so painful?
I scarcely remember how the conversation ended, mostly because at the time the conversation in my head was louder. I was touched that YYY called, but still it didn’t change anything. He wasn’t mine. He didn’t want to be mine. He still needed to do his living. He couldn’t be my friend and yet, he wanted to make sure I was still alive.
The next month was uneasy. The country, and New York City especially, was recouping from unimaginable disaster. I’d never felt more alone. It was a time where I wished to have a partner to grab on to, and I had none. But I also realized that YYY would not have been a comfort. Instead, I recognized that he had been a burden. I was forced to carry his load at all times -- his emotional load, his discontent, his jealousy, his depression, his unease. Life with YYY wasn’t easy. And so why had I accepted the job?


Sundays changed my life. On Sundays, the office was nearly empty. There were only a few people on duty to finish the Monday paper. Sundays belonged to XXX and I. It was our day to get to know one another, joke, flirt and speak freely with no audience. And though he was 7 years older, it didn’t feel like a barrier. Seemingly opposite in every way, we had a chemistry that surprised us both.
In truth, though, I didn’t give it much thought. I was seeing another guy named CCC, whom I’d gone to college with. Well, by seeing I mean I was hanging out with him. He, again, had everything in common with me. SImilar upbringing, similarly career. So similar, in fact, that it was like dating a clone of myself. Not ideal.
One Friday night, CCC had taken me to hear Dido sing at a local bar. She was only coming on to the music scene then. We retreated to the back for drinks and to talk, but CCC leaned in unexpectedly for a kiss. I could not have felt less desirous, or more terrible. It was in that moment that I decided that CCC would be nothing but a friend. I had unknowingly made him think more was possible and embarrassed him through rejection. Needless to say, it put a halt to the evening. The gentleman he was, and is, he didn’t hold it against me.
That night, I tossed and turned in my bed. Why did I have this excited feeling — the kind you get when you have a crush on someone — if I didn’t want to kiss CCC? And my conscience answered me. It was XXX I was thinking of.
“The guy from work?” I thought to myself. “He’s so not your type! You work with him! He’s older! He’s a party guy!”
There were reasons, many reasons, why crushing on XXX was a bad idea. And I was determined to keep it to myself.
The following Monday, at 3 in the afternoon, I got an email from XXX. This was routine. Though we sat not 2 feet apart, sending information via email was common. I opened up the email:
“I think I have a crush on you.”
I sank in my chair and a red flush came to my face. Holy crap! What was I supposed to do?
My hands took over:
“I think I have a crush on you too.”
Send.
I waited.
A new email appeared in my inbox:
‘What do you think we should do about it?”
We went back and forth, ignoring our work for about a week. There were pro’s and con’s. Many many con’s. I was concerned. What if it didn’t work out? We worked together! Was he too old for me? Was his lifestyle far too different than mine?
In the end, we decided to just hang out on the outside and see how it went. I was to meet him at his house and from there we would go to dinner. I wore a pinkish/magenta shirt I knew he liked. This was a date, and a date I wanted to work out.
Walking up to his door, he was waiting.
“There she is, all pretty in pink.”
I smiled. He was sweet.
His apartment screamed bachelor pad — albeit abnormally clean bachelor pad. It was obvious he had spent the entire day cleaning it. It smelled of cleaning products and air freshener.
“Hold on, I just have to get something,” he said, retreating to the bedroom. I stood at the front door, waiting. I heard the crinkling of plastic and couldn’t believe my eyes when he came out carrying the biggest bouquet of roses I’ve ever seen. It required both hands to carry and was the most elaborate arrangement of flowers, wrapped in an equally elaborate giant red bow.
“I know we’re getting to know each other still, but I’ve never been more sure of anything. I want you to be my girlfriend.”
He smiled, embarrassed at the declaration he was making.
“Would you be my girlfriend?”
It was so polite! So old-fashioned! So beautiful! I was shell-shocked, holding the awkwardly bulky flowers, and mouth parted, still silent. Words did not come. The compliments, the flowers, the declarations, oh my!
“Sure!” I said. Why not? This was over-the-top romance. But before I could speak further, he kissed me. The flowers crunched between us, and I felt a glimmer in my soul. It felt good. Beyond that, it felt right.


Eight years later, XXX and I got married on a beautiful spring day. He was crying at the altar, and I was giggling. The two who always said they’d never tie the knot because it wasn’t necessary, were suddenly overcome with emotion and joy as they said their simple vows.
“I choose to take this journey with you, wherever it leads, with all that I am and all that I will become.”
On our honeymoon, we discussed our early days.
“You know that photo you had on your desk of you and that guy?” XXX asked.
“Eric?”
“Yeah, whatever. That guy.” XXX said humorously. “Well, I used to look at that photo and just wish I could be the guy in the picture. I wanted to be with you, smiling in photos that end up your office desk.”
“Really?” I asked, tilting my head at the cuteness of it all.
“Yeah. It was a completely new feeling. I realized that I wanted a partner and I wanted that life with you. I didn’t know how to become the guy in the photo, but somehow it happened. And now, I’m always the guy in your photos.”

LOVE STORIES PART FOUR-BEAZIE'S FAVES!

"SWEETPEA (PUPPY FROM A DITCH"
In the mid-80s I was out riding my bike with a friend in the Iowa countryside. We had come to an intersection and I felt very strongly that I wanted to make a right turn on the intersecting gravel road. Soon after we began down the road, my eyes caught movement in the ditch, it was a little beagle-mix black and brown puppy, probably no more than 8 weeks old. As I was unable to carry her on the bike, I biked home, got my car and came back to get her. She was terrified. I waited patiently until she felt ok to approach me, then picked her up and put her in the car. As I rode home I kept praying that my two other larges dogs would accept her into the fold. Well, they did! Sweetpea had serious trust issues and was afraid all of her life.

"LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT"
She purred when I picked her up for the first time as a little girl and I knew it was love at first sight! Me and my kitty have been happily together for 19 years since and counting!



"LONG DISTANCE LOVE STORY"
12 years ago when coming home from work I noticed one of my students looking down into what I thought was a box of garbage, only to find 3 tiny 2 week old kittens looking up at me. I called my husband and told him we had to change our plans that day. I placed the box on my bicycle basket and took them home. We worried they might not survive at such an early stage. In the end we had to push their little heads into a bowl of milk to teach them how to eat without their mother. Luckily George, Missy and Ofelia are very smart cats and took to the milk without too much fuss. That was in 1998. George was named after one of my favorite books... Curious George, cause that was exactly who he was. He was the first to eat, first to make his way out of the box we kept them in to be safe, the first at everything. Missy was our little dainty girl, a real "miss" and Ofelia has had a tragic struggle in life, first being abandoned, then having fleas drink so much of her blood she needed a blood transfusion. To her current state of being diabetic, anemic and having a brain disorder that has resulted in one eye being ruined, but she is a fighter and still kicking 12 years later. These are my "furry bodies of love". They come to greet us when we come home from work, they calm us when we have had a bad day and they give us unconditional love everyday.
Now in 2005 we planned to leave Japan and move to my husbands home country of Sweden. We had to get the cats inoculated for rabies before we went as Japan does not have the disease. After, that the cats had to be tested for antibodies against rabies. One day, a couple months from the move I got the news, the girls had past but George did not as he had rabies and could not build enough antibodies to defend himself. I came home worried, knowing what I wanted to do but not sure how my husband Thomas would feel. When I told him George had not passed, he said the one thing I wanted to hear. "Well we can't go then!" Exactly my thoughts, you wouldn't leave your child behind, so why would you leave your pet?
I can honestly say I have never loved my husband more! We are still in Japan because of my dear boy, even though he was killed by a car two years ago, I have never regretted staying. His sisters have a new brother, found in a park last March, Indy (named after Indiana Jones, for his adventurous nature and love of excavation of the cat toilet) has brought a whole new life to our house. Along with Bob, the dog I found wandering the streets of Osaka abandoned by his owner for being too sick. We now have a house filled with love! What more could a person ask for?


"PRECIOUS LOVE"
I’ve never been in a serious relationship so I didn’t know what love felt like until I got my Cat Precious about 6 years ago. I love Precious so much. I always look forward to spending time with her, looking after her and discovering what her quirks are. She also keeps me company when I need someone beside me. She is the best cat anyone could ever ask for and I truly don’t know what I would do without her. I could be having the worst day and just thinking about her and seeing her puts me in a good mood. She has really taught me what it feels like to love someone.


"LILY AND BLUE"
Standing at my stove absent-mindedly stirring my oatmeal and thinking
about the day ahead, I automatically turned toward the flash of white that
caught my eye at the far end of the backyard. Looking out the long windows
at the back of the kitchen into the back yard, I scanned the newly emergingferns, thinking I had seen one of the lilies setting a bud but it was too early
in the spring for that. Then I saw it again, a moving flash of white.
Standing very still, holding my breath, I saw her. She was looking straight at me
with her huge golden lion eyes, almost hidden by the returning fern sprouts. When
I moved toward the back door, she disappeared.
She returned the next day, showing a little more and a little more of herself, a small, compact black and grey cat with American Shorthair whorls on each side, a white lower face, white chest and white paws. Her thin body made her legs look like stilts. I began taking small bowls of fresh water and dry kibble out to her. She would withdraw to the back fence when she saw me, but when I went back into the house, she crept toward the bowls and ate ravenously until all was gone.
Each day, I filled the food bowl with more kibble and set it, along with her water,
a little closer to the kitchen's backdoor. Most days, she came, creeping closer and ate it all. When it was finished and after drinking a little water, instead of running
away, she sat and looked at me watching her from inside the kitchen before turning and walking away.
I soon realized that I knew her. She had been a kitten the spring before, the latest addition to a feral cat family that prowled our neighborhood. I had seen her several times as a newborn when her athletic mother, whom she resembled, carried her in her mouth, flying straight up tree trunks, across fences and roof lines. Soon, the kitten was walking near her mother as they prowled the neighborhood. One day, when she was about six months old, her mother disappeared and never returned, but I would get occasional glimpses of the kitten.
I forgot about her after awhile. Then, full grown, she appeared in my back yard among the ferns a year ago. I began thinking of her as Lily.
Time passed. Some days she did not come and I drove to work with a heavy heart, worrying that some predator or some car had killed her. But she always returned.
By summer, she was coming into the covered porch behind my kitchen. Her body filled out and she looked healthier. She began to allow me to stay in the porch when I took food and water out to her. I sat on a low stool and talked to her very quietly as she ate. She was purring by the time she came into the porch and would rub against my leg, letting me stroke and talk to her, even before she turned to eat. One day, she climbed on my lap and, as I whispered to her, she leaned her head against my chest where she must have heard my heart racing.
As the days turned cool last fall, my thoughts turned to the coming winter and wondered whether she would let me bring her inside and whether my older two cats would accept her (and she them). I started putting her food bowl inside a
cat carrier, the door left open. She did not like this and resisted going in, even punishing me by disappearing for a few days, but then returned. She would go into the carrier but leave her long tail and one hind leg out, stretching to reach
the food, making me smile at her wiliness.
I folded an old blanket and some old towels on the floor of the porch for her to sleep on and usually found her curled up there early in the morning. When I opened the back door, she would stick her head inside and then withdraw, unwilling to come in where it was warmer, yet curious.
Then, one chilly day in late October, after going missing for a few days, she came.
As usual, she climbed on my lap when I came out with her food, but seemed distracted, turning repeatedly toward the back yard and crying. I checked her body for something hurting, but found no cuts or other wounds, but she continued
her intermittent little cries. Finally, I turned to look where she was looking toward
the browning ferns leaning from the fern bed into the porch floor. And then I saw:
a tiny grey and white face with huge blue eyes, pink nose and little mouth open in a responding cry. Lily jumped down and went to her kitten, nuzzled her and then
sat down to nurse her. I watched in amazement that she had been creating this beautiful little kitten.
Lily and the kitten, whom I named Blue for her blue eyes and distinctly blue aura, were soon ready to be checked by my vet, spayed, brought in and gradually introduced to Muffin and Hallie. All four little formerly ferals, ranging from four months to fifteen years, are now part of my household and part of my heart.



"LONG DAY"
We start the day together, very sad to part, I pat you on the head, you give me a bark. I’m off to work, your back to bed, dreams of puppy play fill your head. My day is long, but yours is too, so much time, and so little to do. I’m home at five, your happy at the door, I look behind at the mess on the floor. I thought work was over, but this is just the start what I call disaster, you call art! My house is a wreck as it is everyday, all from boredom and puppy play. You smile at me and wag your tail. you’ve got to be really cute to make this one sail. You see me laugh, you lick my face. My love for you has always been your saving grace.

"LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT"
It didnt start off as love at first site. He was a puppy, i was a girl in her late 20’s. He liked to pee in his crate and sleep in it so he had to get a bath at 6am every morning…I liked to be up late at night, out with friends, and sleep in…but we found each other and for six glorious years, he was my best friend, my defender, my smile and my laughter and my joy. he was fear aggressive and would attack everyone but a select few – to me, he was just expressive and taught me that there was no need to bite when a growl would do. He was always so afraid of what could be coming up behind him that sometimes on walks, he would walk into a car and set off the car alarm — which taught me that the more you focus on what is behind you, the less you see what is coming…he was my dog – and this march 8th, 2010, it will be 3 years since I lost him to cancer. it didnt start out as love at first site..but, in the end, it was a love that burned so deeply in me, that i will never be the same – thank you to my Jixxer


"LOVE STORY"
Date: November 4, 2009 Location: Wissahickon Walk Park Philadelphia, PA While out for an evening walk with our dog Jax, I heard the faint sound of a cat’s meow. I stopped and listened and out of the forest, an orange tabby kitten appeared. This kittena came running towards Jax and me meowing all the way. Smitten by her big, brown eyes, I scooped her up and carried her home. It was cold out and I just could not let her stay in the Wissahickon. Jax was quite proud of our “find” and kept looking back on our journey home. Although, we already had 3 cats and a dog, something told me that I could not leave this tabby in the forest. I brought her home and everyone immediatly fell in love with her. There’s something special about his kitty, who we named Anahata (heart chakra) and she has really brough a nice balance to our animal menagerie!


"PUPPY LOVE"
I LOVE MY DOG


"QUEENIE THEENIE"
On Saturday August 25, 2007, at 4 pm Athena, my gorgeous calico girl kitty died after a courageous battle to get her diabetes under control


"LOVE IS UNCONDITIONAL"
Love is unconditional and wonderful if you have animals!

LOVE STORIES- PART 3-Absolute Proof that LOVE Is All We Need!

"A LOVE LIKE NO OTHER"
My husband wrote me a sweet note in my anniversary card. It said the last 8 yrs were the best of his life and he hopes to have another 80 even better than the last ones.


"A NORMAL HAPPY MARRIAGE"
I first have to say that I don’t have any dramatic, birds singing, waves crashing, romantic story that I can share. What I do have is 11 years and two children with the most wonderful man
I have ever met. We met in college and had pretty strong feelings for each other from the start. He has told me that he liked the fact that (unlike most of the other girls he dated) valued my personal time and space. I knew I liked the fact that he was very intuitive and really seemed to listen and care about the people in his life. I felt like he was my best friend and at the same time incredibly sexy. I don’t think there is a more perfect combination for a spouse than that. We have had some seriously tough times in eleven years together. I can remember two times where we very seriously discussed divorcing because we strongly disagreed about which path our lives should take. We ultimately decided that we are committed to each other and our underlying mutual love and respect was worth sticking it out for. Each time we made the decision that divorce wasn’t an option we became stronger in our love and commitment to each other. We have been many different people through out our marriage and we will continue to grow and change in the coming years but I am confident that we will love each other even more as we grow old together than we do today.

"A SON IN LAWS LOVE"
My father and mother had 3 girls. When my parents were old we all pitched in to help them. My father was a very modest man and it was very hard for him to have his daughters help him in his bathing and dressing. My husband XXX would come to my parents home and help my father in the shower and in dressing. I will never forget the love my husband had towards my parents. My mother would tell him if I had a son I would want him to be you XXX. My husband said to me he loved them like his own parents. XXX is a good husband, father and man and I thank God for him.

"A TOAST"
“You are the butter to my bread, the breath of my life.” – Julia Child

"A LOVE STORY"
Cape May, New Jersey, 2007. Our two week vacation was at it’s end. My husband and my two sons, age 3 and 1 and a half, were dutifully packing up and checking things off the check out list of our lovely little beach cottage. I turned my attention to the task of organizing the memories, — video camera and and camera. I joke that my boys don’t think what they are doind is meaningful unlessI whip out some sore of device and capture the moment. But is is more for me then them. I love every minute with them. Back to the beach…I check the camera case and the itty bitty teeny tiny memory card that contained 400+ pictures (I actually had to buy a new one while on the trip because I filled the old one up) and, nothing. Not in the case, not near the case, not one the floor, not in the drawer. Interrogation…Who saw it last? Did you take it somewhere? Everybody look! Look! We have to be out of here in a few hours!! No luck. Many tears. Thoughts of Ian’s first trip up the lighthouse, Ty at high tea, carriage rides, waves, sandcastles, custard cups melting away. My husband sent me to the beach with the boys so he could start packing the car up and I figured I’d at least capture some pictures. Over an hour later my husband strolls up to us on the beach and from a distantance is making a strange hand signal. Can’t make it out? What??? As he gets closer, there between his pointer finger and thumb is an itty bitty, teeny tiny memory card!!!! Two weeks of happiness!! My dear, sweet husband had concluded that our young son, who was facinated by the kitchen garbage can that had a petal he could step on to open, unlike ours at home, was the only place we didn’t look. Not only did he look in the garbage can in the kitchen, but he went to the market and bought yellow dish gloves and ripped open 3 bags of garbage that had been sitting outside and that is where he found it. Bound by love/that unleashed two hearts/it goes on.


"LOVE IS REAL"
I knew that love was real as soon as I reached the day when XXX would smile at me…and the world – the hectic, busy, stressful world – would stand absolutely still just to allow me that moment of enjoyment.

"DAILY DOSE OF LOVE"
The nice man who drives my morning bus. The friendly workers in my company cafeteria. My mom’s lunchtime call. My boyfriend’s mid-afternoon text. My friends’ all-day google chatting. My stepfather’s daily ride home from work. My yoga teacher’s sometimes not-so-gentle encouragement. My cats’ goodnight cuddling. I am surrounded by love, all day, in so many ways. I am lucky.


"EVERY DAY IN EVERY WAY"
I have severe Rheumatoid Arthritis and my husband shows his love everyday in all the things he does to make my life better, easier and happier. He goes way beyond what most people would do.

"OUR FIRST VALENTINES TOGETHER'
Valentines Morning my boyfriend made me breakfast in bed.When I came home it was so nice,he had dinner ready and a table set up for us. After dinner he had hershy kisses(one for each day we were together) leading to my bedroom with my present on the bed. There was a nice card,candy,candles ….everything was perfect!!! It was a great day!


"HES THERE FOR YOU NO MATTER HOW UNPLEASANT THE BUSINESS IS"
True love – comes to your aid anytime, anywhere; offers to be with you even when it means he has to be away from work and waiting for you when there is nothing for him to do; all he wants back is your love and care…


"HELLO RED!"
It was 1950 they were walking out of church. The ugly duckling of the XXX Clan and the Hottie of the XXX Clan. A romance Blossomed and in 1955 the wed. 54 years later they are still devoted and “in LOVE” despite everything possible that could have split them apart. Mr and Mrs. XXX, my parents deserve to be winners to boost their hearts and remind them that their love story has touched hunderds of lives from their Devoted Daughter and hopeful writer, me!


"HOW WE MET"
Hub and I met at a Family Pool Hall, I walked in and saw him playing pool with some friends, and couldn’t take my eye’s off of him. he on the on the other hand, he wouldn’t break his concentration no matter what I did to get his attention. Finally after a few nights of going up just to watch him play, he and his friends invited me to go with them to a Tournament out of town. I went. Once we got back, he and I started dating. The rest is History. 14 years later and two children. We are just as in love as the day we started dating.



"I DREAMT AN INNOCENT DREAM"
“Love”, how much weight do this four letters have? To a little nurtured boy this is a usual word he used to listen for the whole day. This word continuously played in his mother’s lips as records play in a cassette. On the other hand, to a street boy this is that precious sound which he can hardly hear from his dearest ones. Whoever tells him, that boy becomes the bought away slave of that man forever. Even he’ll not fear to pay for this four letters with own life. And eventually, 17 years old boy like me is nurturing some one special inside his soul! How many ways people can meet! A relation so long can turn in love at once or even a single glance can make the cupid shoot his arrow. “Love is not a race; where 1st,2nd ,3rd should be count on. Love is love; it may come any time for any person.” In a drama, falling in love with the help of cell phone is very common. And many cover stories are usual in magazines about marriage of couples fallen in love over internet. Even though I am amused by the incident happened in my life. My other identity is “xxx”. This xxx id changed Me, my past, present, and may be my nearer future. Her name and other identities are not essential now as she’s nowhere but inside my soul. Every part of my & soul cries out her name. Her beautiful name is engraved nowhere but in the deep of my mind, will be enlightening till my heart continuous its beats. Really we are apart from us. Not only distance, other much highlighted facts lies between us. She is Indian & I’m Bangladeshi. It differs our nationality. She is from Hindu religion but I’m from Muslim society. Certainly it’s a burning issue. Again our family, living style & language varies. But the fact is, both of us know that these differences really matters to the society not to souls. We can’t touch each other with our blood & flesh but we had touched our souls & minds. Even there is no complexity of face & voice but our thought & perspectives touched each others & flowing in the same frequency. I am amused at her purity and holiness of thoughts, brilliant ideas, and trend ness with a very suitable personality. And what not she is! Even sometimes I am astonished how my mind has changed by the holy touch of her relationship. I haven’t seen an angel, but I am sure that ‘XXX’ is slightly or may be more than an angel. That’s it, that’s her name and really she bought a lot of XXX (happiness) in my life. But a crucial point is that, we didn’t offer our love. Actually we never think, love only means ‘Romeo-Juliet’. Everything just comes from emotions; from what or whom we like. And in flow, with love we named our relationship as best friends. Because we wanted to live forever, for each other. Some may take me as a silly boy. But tell me, what fear can be compared with loosing something or someone so special?? Friends, XXX is not with me now, but a day will come, in a starry night may be we both will look at the same star. The star will fall down at the weight of our love. She may feel a sigh for a friend who is the best at the other end. Till then let us both look at the same sky.


"I AM BEAUTIFUL BECAUSE HE LOVES ME"
It was this time last year I met the man of my dreams, the man that calls me “His Forever”. XXX is not just your ordinary man. He knows how to put a smile on my face that lights up the whole world! It was the moment when me and him were face to face, alone in the dark for the first time. I wanted to tell him i loved him, but how could I tell him that when I only known him for a week. It was then when he looked me in my eyes and said “I feel like I should be telling you I love you”, my mouth dropped because I felt the same way. We have been together ever since. We moved into our own place and he accepted my 5 year old son as apart of his life as well. My mother says “If you could bottle what you two have and share it with the world, the workd would be a better place”. My heart has never felt so sure about anything before, but now I know. No matter where I am or what Im doing I wish he was there with me. XXX was the first man to tell me I was beautiful, it was well worth the wait.


"IT STARTED IN VIENNA"
I had been friends with my current boyfriend throughout most of college, but it wasn’t until we were both studying abroad and I flew from Dublin to Vienna that I realized how I felt about him. While I was there, we spent one-on-one time together, he was speaking German for me since I only know a bit of French, we went to the open air markets, he took me to a Viennese ball since it was ball season! It was snowing the whole time I was there, which made the city of Vienna even more incredibly romantic; he even took me to see where the Steinway Pianos are made since he knows I play the piano. Leaving was very difficult, and I was so happy that no one was sitting next to me on the plane since I was in tears when we were taking off in the snowstorm. Once we were reunited at school in the fall, we officially started dating and have been together ever since. We plan on traveling back to Europe in the not so distant future."


"LONG DISTANCE LOVE"
I met the love of my life online over 3 years ago and flew out to see her within the first year of our relationship. We’re both in college, but I still visit her every chance I get for as long as I can. In another couple years, once we graduate, we’ll figure out who’s moving where


"LOST LOVE"
I moved with my family to Mankato my Junior year in High School. I thought my life would end having to leave my friends and home. But, it didn’t turn out to be that bad. I made good friends and met XXX. He was everything I dreamed about. We started dating and cared for each other very much. But, we were young and things happened and we broke up right before my high school graduation. I moved away and got a job and then got married. XXX stayed in Mankato and started a business and married a local girl. I thought about him and wondered what his life was like. When I would go to Mankato and visit my family I would get butterflies when I drove by his business. I guess the feeling was still there. After being married for 21 years my husband and I divorced. The weird thing is that after being married for 21 years, XXX and his wife divorced too! We started emailing each other and then talked on the phone and then, we decided to meet each other. It was amazing. The feelings were still there and we knew that we wanted to be together again. So, we have been married for four years and thank God everyday for helping us find each other again.



"LOVE ABOUNDS"
My 2 best friends just found love in their middle age and I am so happy for them. They deserve much happiness.


"LOVE AND DEVOTION"
It all began 50 years ago o the campus of a woman’s college. Conn. College. It was Good Friday 1959 and He was in search of a new love. He was a college student down the road at a mens college. He was encouraged by his cousin who was dating his sister to look her up. So he did by visiting her, unknow to her. He (XXX) went to her dorm and asked for her (XXX) He was told that she was in the English building studying. So he went to meet and find her. The building was empty and the all he could hear was a voice echoing in a hallway. He approached the room and there she sat. Sitting on a desk reciting Poetry by Keats. He was instantly enamored with her poise and her beauty. He asked if he could stay and listen. She said “of course”! After she finished he invited her to have coffee with him and they began their 50 year love story. 50 years later they have two children 5 grandchildren and a beautiful and fortunate life together. Sure there has been bumps in the road but they were able to get through those bumps and build an amazing life together. It is bacause of their admiration and respect for each other I was able to find a wonderful man whom I have been able to bulid a life together with. 15 years and we have had our share of bumps but love each other to get through them. I hope to pass this love and devotion down to my daughters who are now 8 and 10. LOve is beautiful and it does not come easy but it is truly rewarding and fulfilling.

"LOVE STORY"
One day after school a 15 year old girl met a 18 year old boy. 5 years later they married. Children really. 20 and 23. Today that same little girl and that same young boy are married 35 years. Yup there are ups and downs but love is a decision and there is no room for being selfish. How lucky am I?

"LOVE IS IN THE EYES"
It’s tough to tell when love is real, but I knew it just three nights ago, as my wife and I were ice-skating. I could just feel her looking at me, and when I turned, sure enough she was. We are connected, and always seem to be at the same level, and on the same page. Sometimes, you know it’s love, just from the eyes. Thank you for this wonderful opportunity

"LOVE IS LOOKING BEYOND THE PHYSICAL APPEARANCE"
I know love is more mental than physical. Loving someone so deep means loving a person for them an not because they look a cetain way. Always be yourself and you are sure to find true love.

"LOVE IS REAL"
Although I know that love is real, when I read about this contest I was not going to enter. I don’t have a GREAT love story to tell. Yes, indeed it is true love, but was there a great story? No. BUT the stars aligned today or something and although this is still not a “rock the world” love story, it is worth sharing for sure. Tomorrow I will leave to Mexico with my hubby of 13 years to celebrate my 40th birthday. Our first vacation without the 4 kids in 8 years. We are both so excited to have some alone time. As I reached up on the closet shelf to grab my sandals down I knocked down a whole stack of cards that were shoved up there. I read through them all. A card I had given my husband on our wedding day professing my love. Another card he gave me on our very first anniversary. Another I gave him on our 2nd anniversary – hoping for at least 100 more! I was so happy to find these cards and read the words of love from so long ago. And to realize that the words are still there today, 13 years later. What a perfect day for me to find these. I think our weekend away will be a perfect time to look at our love and our lives together. (And then of course I hopped on facebook and saw the contest – so I thought it must be meant to share. The stars are alligned today!)

"LOVE KNOT"
He captured my heart

"LOVE ON THE SEA"
my husband and i meet on a cruise and have been cruising ever since.


"LOVE STORY"
My husband proposed to me in the most romantic way!

"LOVE WITHOUT REASON"
hubby calling to say I love you for no reason.

"MAGIC"
In 1978, attending a meeting of our college campus radio station, I looked across the room and saw XXX. I took one look and thought- wow- there’s the guy I’m going to marry. (No we had not met before.) We did not have our first date until a year later. After a week or two he had to leave to go out of town for a few days. He handed me a note and drove off. I opened this piece of paper and in the center in small type it read “Is there magic in the air? -i” (his last name began with an “i”. I about fell on the ground with wonder and amazement. We were engaged 5 weeks after our first date and have been married 29 years this year.

"LOVE STORY"
I met my husband while he was working for a temp agency. I was his boss. We both had just gotten divorced and had admired each other from afar. After 3 weeks he asked me out. I had him come to my house (which he drove by 3 times before finding the address – me being outside at the curb should have helped!) We talked for a few hours that night. I was already in love and hoping his feelings were the same. He called the next day and came over again. After talking and getting acquainted, he proposed. We married a week later in Reno with our mothers in tow (crazy, huh?). Within the next six months, we both quit our jobs, started a temporary staffing business, build a home which included a mother in law apartment. That was 11 years ago and we are still going strong. Sometimes you just know. We will be together for all time. Our love is amazing. It gets stronger everyday.


"LOVE STORY"
My husband and I met at a cowboy bar call Stampede--there was even a
mechanical bull in the bar--hysterical. And, no, neither of us rode
the bull! I was living in Denver attending graduate school. He was
working there on what he thought was a short-term basis. When we
started chatting we leaned that were both from Utah. We talked the
whole night and at the end of the evening he asked for my number.
After waiting the "required" three days, he called. Around that same
time his employer asked him to stay in Denver for a year. After that
we were inseparable. I helped him find an apartment and he made
arrangements to move his furniture, etc. to Denver. As luck, kismet,
and/or alignment of the constellations would have it, my lease was up
on my apartment. So after only six weeks of knowing each other we
moved in together!! I think my Mom thought I had lost my mind. I
wasn't as shocked. My first clue was when we were moving his things
in and I realized he only put clothes in 1/2 of his closet (how cute
it that??).
One year later I graduated and my husband's job in Denver ended (also
a strange coincidence) and we decided to return to Utah since both our
families are here. We had a new place to live, new careers (he
changed careers to avoid traveling), and new families! About nine
months later (no not a baby!) the heat went out at my office and they
sent us all home. Again the stars were aligned, and my husband had
that day off work. Before I left work I called him and told him I
would be home soon and was wondering if he wanted to GET
MARRIED!!!!!!!! He said YES. So about 4 hours, one Polaroid photo
and a justice of the peace later, we were hitched! That was six years
ago.


"A SIMPLE ACT OF LOVE"
My husband and I had a meeting to go to one night and it was pouring rain. We have a tradition of picking up a cup of coffee before the meeting, but the coffee shop is in a stip mall downtown with no close parking. We switched seats in the car and he went out in the pouring rain to pick up our coffees while I waited safe and dry in the car. It was just one of the many simple ways he shows his love for me.


"PROPOSAL"
Head giddy with champagne

"SOMETIMES LOVE IS HIDING IN THE ODDEST PLACES"
I never would have guessed I would fall in love with a guy with wearing a Cloak and feathered top hat. I went on Secondlife, a virtual world, out of boredom and Curisoty. I found myself making a few friendships on there and going to a club with them. Everytime I was there I saw the same guy and one night we struck up a conversation. Over the next several months we become very good friends. Nightly we would spend hour talking. The time on Secondlife slowly changed to Skype and MSN and we started talking about a real life meeting. I Realized I had falling in love with this man I had met online.


"THANK YOU FACEBOOK"
Jan 19, 2009 I decided to look up my old boydfriend via facebook. I found his name and wrote, Did you go to PS 13?

"THE AWAKENING"
When I first saw XXX, something deep inside of me just “knew.” It was in a bowling alley, not the most romantic of settings, but from that point forward I was constantly aware of her proximity to me. If for some reason she missed a day, I could feel it when I arrived. I suppose at this point that I should mention that not only had I not talked to XXX, I was also married…to a man. So while it was unusual for me to be so drawn to a woman, it was a feeling I could not ignore. I eventually got the nerve to talk to XXX at bowling, then to invite her to spend time together. And eventually I admitted to myself what the truth was, I was falling in love. The beginning of our relationship was full of the usual joy, but also tempered with the guilt of hurting someone else and lots of life changing decisions. XXX was wonderful and supportive throughout this process and never offered any pressure. We came to live together in February of 2007, and there has been no looking back for either of us. In November of 08 XXX proposed to me, surprising me with a beautiful ring while we were staying at our favorite hotel on the coast. It was a beautiful, perfect moment and one I’ll never forget. At first XXX said she didnt need an engagement ring for herself, but I could tell that deep down she really did want one. We shopped the internet together and found the perfect ring for her. You guessed it, on the Giving Tree website. I was able to purchase the very last one in her size and have it overnighted so that it arrived in time for Thanksgiving. While XXX knew the ring was coming, I got to surprise her with the timing of it and the Giving Tree was instrumental in that. We got married on September 1st 2009 and have never been happier. I have learned that its never too late to realize who you are and to follow your heart. The reward for me has been a wonderful life and most importantly, a wonderful wife.


"THE JOYS OF MARRIAGE"
Happy being married for 8 years...


"THE MOMENT I SAW YOUR FACE"
I met my soon to be husband about a year ago. He is from and lives in Southern California, his best friend of 20+ years had moved to my small town in Tennesse five years ago for a job. He met and was about to marry my best friend, so naturally he invited his best friend from California to the wedding. My friend thought that it would be nice if XXX (my fiance’) had someone to hang out with the week prior to the wedding and since I would be around with her that week, that person had to be me. Of course, I kicked and screamed about it but the day before XXX was going to fly in, he calls me. We were immediately in stitches, 100% connection! Four hours later, the two non-phone talkers finished our phone call bewildered. He flew in the next day and we spent the most amazing week together out on the lake, out to dinner, long walks and long talks… Saturday night was the rehearsal dinner and as we’re sitting there, I looked up and he had the most revealing look on his face, I calmed my rapidly beating heart as I took a sip of my wine, looked back up at him and said “How bad do you want to say it right now?” and without asking what “it” was, he says to me “I do, I Love You, I have fallen in Love with You”. I never thought that I would have a fairy tale, but this is my story, my “Love Story”.

" A KIND SOUL"
I remember the moment that I knew I was in love with the “right” man. We had flown to Portland for my best friends wedding and my parents and I and my boyfriend at the time ( now my husband) were walking down the street. I forget exactly what we were talking about but were in the middle of a conversation when he just left and crossed the street. My dad looked at me as if to say, " what exactly do you see in this guy." As we watched him runand just as I was about to call out his name we noticed an elderly lady crossing the street with her walker. The light had changed and the cars were patiently waiting and he made it just in time to help her up the curb. It was a true act of a kind soul and to this day he is the kindest person I know and I am beside myself at times to know that he is with me.

"LOVE IS A DECISION"
One day after school a 15 year old girl met a 18 year old boy. 5 years later they married. Children really. 20 and 23. Today that same little girl and that same young boy are married 35 years. Yup there are ups and downs but love is a decision and there is no room for being selfish. How lucky am I?

"THE RED WAGON"
Once when I was a child my mother told me that I had been given a brand new red wagon. I loved that Radio Flyer wagon. I used to play with it constantly. I’d hop in it and use the handle as a steering wheel as my friends pushed me down the hills by our house. I asked my mom several times who had given me the wagon, but she would never say. I remember as a child trying to figure out who had given me the wagon. Years later my great uncle died and it was then that my mom told me that he had been the one to get me the wagon. He had seen me playing and had wanted to buy one for me, but keep the fact that he had purchased it a secret. This was one of my first experiences with a selfless act of love.

"POEM FOR MY WIFE"
Five years ago, I met the love of my life,
she’s that special someone, I now call my wife.

We met at a concert, in March of ’05,
where the beer was cold and the music was live.

In June, I surprised her, in an open launch field,
our hot air balloon floating, all colors revealed.

We hopped in the wicker gondola, and started an ascension,
with the ground and its inhabitants, shrinking in dimensions.

Floating serenely in a dream world, suspended in the wind’s highway,
we were one with nature, weightless like the sun’s rays.

Another adventure, three months later, that day,
she brought me to the Oktoberfest, surprised I must say.

We enjoyed the German music, in Addison Circle Park,
in the traditional Bavarian setting, the food a work of art.

The wines were delicious, the biers even better,
my loving counterpart at my side, so glad I met her.

Next we tried handmade pretzels, and potato pancakes,
with some roasted almonds, apple strudel, for goodness sakes.

What a great event we shared, under the many tents,
just as if we were in Munich, if to Germany we went.

Then we married several months later, and made a perfect pair,
in a gathering of two families, planned with such care.

She is my true companion, our love cannot be measured,
for it’s not the destination, but our journey we treasure

LOVE STORIES-ACT TWO: Stories Of Fearlessness, Healing, and LOVE

"MY HERO"
You are 36 years old and just found out every woman’s fear…you have breast cancer. You have to have a mastectomy and chemotherapy…..that was me several years ago….young and frightened and wondering how my husband would handle it. Well, he was absolutely my hero….he stood by my side every minute…every treatment…..he will always be my………Valentine!

"MY LOVE STORY"
My love story begins about 10 years ago whilst in my first marriage.... I had married at the tender age of 19, blinded by lust, hope and dreams...I moved, with this man, from England (and the arms of my beloved mum and family) to the other side of the world, to his home, Australia. Here we began to make a life, which, at first was fun, exciting and full of dreams. I became pregnant and things went downhill fast. I was very ill while pregnant and then suffered terrible post natal depression after my son was born. We had no money for me to 'go home' and I was very lonely and depressed. Things went from bad to worse when I woke up one day and realised that I was a victim of domestic violence.

I don't remember when it began but I remember the day that it ended. It was the middle of the night and I had been thrown down the stairs and now my head was being bashed against the cold tiles. As I opened my eyes, I looked up and saw my (then) 6 year old son's terrified, wet little eyes pleading with his father to 'stop hurting mummy'. Love and protection came from nowhere and I felt an overwhelming sense of instinct to take this child and run....which is exactly what I did.

Things were tough and the next few years were a haze of counsellors, court, violence orders, police and fear.....

I decided I had a choice....this man could make me a victim for the rest of my life or...I could chose to live. I chose to live! I enrolled at University, made some fabulous friends and started, for the first time in my life, to believe in myself.

I never ever thought that I would trust a man again...I never thought I would love again....I never thought I wanted any of that again and I knew that I would never ever allow myself to be treated like that again. I had a few 'dates'/'boyfriends' over the years but my life was my son.

I graduated with top marks as an occupational therapist, I was awarded University prizes, I became a member of an International Honours society and for the first time in my life I felt empowered. I collected my certificate at the graduation ceremony and looked up to see my mum in the audience with tears rolling down her face - she was so proud and so was I.

I bought my own house, I finished a post graduate degree and am now in the process of starting my own private practice. My son is a beautiful, kind and well rounded young man of nearly 15 years old. I am so proud of him...and me!

I met XXX last year and fell absolutely and wholly in love with him almost as soon as I met him. He has taught me what real love is (sounds cheesy, I know) but I didn't love my first husband - I know that now. Now that I feel this deep and complete love for XXX - we laugh every single day, we still stare into each others eyes (and I am sure I can see his soul) - I finally feel so completely loved. We just want to be with each other..that's it, that's all.

So, my love story is long and it's taken me a long time to have my own love story - my love story is a love that means absolution...and more than anything, I know how lucky we are as I know that some people will never have what we have so every day I give thanks for my life and my love.

So your jewellery, Rachel, has so much meaning for me which is why I love it so much- I have pieces that I relate to, that my life relates to - The pieces say so much and remind me of how far I have come, how I overcame so many things to be the person that I am now. How I have no regrets, only lessons and how I wouldn't change a single moment.
That is my love story - my love story with myself, my son and XXX

"MY ANGEL"
I have Lupus and on one particularly bad day, my husband and children wanted to go for a walk. I decided that I was not going to miss out on that experience with them, so off we went. I was walking slowly and in some pain when a woman who I had not noticed before was walking towards me. As we started to pass each other on the sidewalk, she stopped me. She looked into my eyes and said “everything is going to be alright, I will pray for you” she then continued down the sidewalk. I stood there stunned, and yet, somehow, I knew everything would be alright. Whenever I am feeling down, I think of her and smile. She will forever be "My Angel"


"MY WIFE"
In august of last year my wife was very sick. She ended up in the ICU where I stayed with her quite a bit. At one point they decided to put a central line in her to give her treatments. I stayed and was watching the procedure and was holding her hand. During it all of a sudden she stopped breathing and coded. As they called a code I was pushed towards the back of the room and could only sit there and watch as they revived her. After that that they could hardly get me to leave her room no matter what was going on or how I felt. That was the closest I ever came to losing her and the msot scared in my life I ever was.

"MY FAMILY"
I know that love is real because, i was pregnant in ’07 and i was so very sad and depressed, my boyfriend and i were into a huge fight, my family and i werent getting along and nothing seemed to be going right. Then on the morning of Feb. 14th, my water broke! it was a miracle! My family came together, my fiance and i put our issues aside, and my beautiful little boy was born! So Valentines Day will ALWAYS be a huge day in my life and in my family! It brings happiness and pushed aside all of our troubles :)

"LOVE AMONG AGONY"
I was violently assaulted a year and half ago. My husband and son have helped me so much. They have stuck by me through all of the fear and anger. I am still in recovery. I feel so horrible that my experience has turned their life upside down. I don’t know if I’ll ever work again. I used to be super mom. cook, clean and work 40 hrs a week. Now I need help with every aspect of my life. My husband has taken on 2 jobs and my son is schooling from home to help take care of me. I feel so worthless and useles. I’m slowing getting used to being a different person. It’s such a slow process. They deserve a break from all of this. A mom is supposed to take care of her child. A wife is supposed to be there for her husband. I pray for strength everyday. I’m so thankful and fortunate to be loved so much.

"LOVE HIM EVEN WHEN WE ARE LOSING EVERYTHING"
My husband had been out of work for over a year without receiving pay. Our first new car was about to be repoIssessed. I wanted out of the situation, wanted to be whisked away to somewhere beautiful and warm to forget about my problems for awhile. But the amazing thing is that we are still in love, after more than 10 years. Life is going well for us again, and I am so happy that I stuck out those hard times with a man that I love and think of as a friend.


"IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH"
My hubby has had knee replacement surgery and has been “under foot” since 11/09 He constantly says to me that I must love him or I would not put up with what he is going through. I love him even more for recognizing that.


"LOVE ONLINE"
My husband and I met online a few years ago. We emailed each other for almost a year before we finally met, feel in love,got married and have 2 beautiful children. I’m sure by now you’ve probably heard of many such stories but to me it’s very profound. I met him at a stage in my life when I was very low and going through lots of very hard times. If it were not for him I truly would of been dead today. My life is owed to him and his beautiful heart and soul. His love and my children are my blessings from our marriage. Everyday, and I mean EVERYDAY, I thank God for him, my beautiful happy loving children and for my breathe and the second chance to life with such love. I never take life for granted, I see the world so differently and only with love and compassion. I am a different person since meeting him and it was because of him, the fact that he accepted me with all my faults and guided me in the right direction, allowing me to do what ever I needed to do in my own time, that I am the person I am today.If it were not for the internet, for online dating, I would never of known the beauty of which life is all about. My life will has been forever changed and I can’t wait to see what my new future holds.

"HOW MUCH JEWELRY CAN I BUY WITH 8 PENNIES"
Last year, our home was burglarized and almost all the jewelry I had collected over my life, including my mom’s jewelry, was stolen (among other things). I discovered the break-in upon arriving home with my twin 3-year-old daughters. The burglary made quite an impression on the girls because they had never seen me cry before. This month, when the girls turned 4 years old, they both got little piggy banks as a birthday present from one of their friends. I let each of them have a handful of pennies to put in their piggy banks. After dancing around, shaking their piggy banks in the air, one of my daughters said to me, “I’m going to buy you new jewelry!” Then she asked me to take the bottom out of the bank and she proceeded to count her pennies. After we determined that she had 8 pennies, she aske me, “how much jewelry can I buy with 8 pennies?” And then I gave her a big hug!

LOVE STORIES!! ACT ONE: Randomness, Serendipity, and Surprise!

"BLIND DATE"
My hubby and I met on a blind date. He always tells me that fior him it was love at first sight. But he had to work to convince me. After months of dating he admitted that the night we met he erased all the numbers in his phone that belonged to women because I was the only woman he wanted. After that how could I not marry him!

"BLIND DATE"
I met my husband on a blind date where we were just tag a longs for our best friends. They ended up not being a match but we were married 3 months later. That was 8 years ago and we now have two beautiful children and are still very much in love.

"LOVE COMES A KNOCKIN'"
I was selling my car, my husband to be came to take a look at it. I opened my front door,and there he was. That was 28 years ago! You never know!

"LOVE AT FIRST BYTE"
I met my husband of 12 years online.He lived in Scotland, I in PA. He proposed after our first face to face meeting when I flew to Scotland for a 3 day weekend.I moved to Scotland, we married & we lived there & traveled the Mediteranean until moving to the US in 2007.We now live in Texas & I run a pet sitting, pet rescue & adoption business by myself.We care for about 40 dogs at our home until they can be vetted & adopted to good loving family homes.We are blessed!Our wedding anniversary is on Valentine’s Day.


"REAL LOVE"
My husband XXX and I were set up on a blind date. Our first ‘real’ date was on February 12, 1994, when we went to an exhibit gala at the Baltimore Museum of Art. XXX was nervous about whether it was too early in the relationship to get me a Valentine but did end up getting me a box of heavenly hand-made truffles from an elite German chocolatier in Baltimore. On this date, my husband quickly learned that he needed to learn to cook for his own survival….for when I said that i would make him breakfast, it meant a smoothie from a blender with granola on top! We dated long distance for the next three years – he in San Francisco and I in Baltimore, for work reasons, including our first year of marriage, when we took different planes back to our respective coasts, after a brief honeymoon in Santa Fe……It has been sixteen years and a lot of life since that first date. We’ve had our share of good times and bad times, triumphs and disappointments. We’ve been best friends, and at times we’ve been adversaries. We have grown closer, and we have hurt each other. And at times, i forget where I am, or what I have, but I only need to watch XXX kick around a pink soccer ball with our three little girls, help them dress their Barbies, watch endless ballet recitals (instead of ESPN), sew a button on one of the girls’ favorite jeans, or plant sunflowers and (giant) pumpkins with them….and I am reminded of this real love……

"SURVEY"
When I first met my future husband, back in 1961, he asked me for a date. I asked him if he was willing to fill out an application for a date, to which he responded, it that’s what it takes to date you, YES! He did filling it completely out and I was impressed, others weren’t so willing or didn’t fill it all out. Now let me tell you, I was dating others, so it wasn’t a lack of dates that prompted the survey.. To make a long story short, we did date and did marry the following year. I said he chased off all the other guys (he did), he said he had too much invested in me (okay, he did help with my car). When our kids were ready to date, he brought up the application, and wondered if we should use it. He thought it was great for us, and our marriage lasted 46 years, three children and six grandchildren. So I’d have to say I agree with him.

"TWO SHIPS AT NIGHT"
For almost 3 years my partner and I were circling each other, trying to find each other and never succeeding, until one day…but that is the end of the story… For four years I worked (almost full-time) at a bar, XXX tells me now that she came in often for lunch and after work. I never saw her there. I lived in Back Bay, and the only window I had in my studio faced the Hancock Tower. XXX worked in the Hancock and her office faced my apartment. She says she would often find herself staring out the window in the direction of my apartment. Many nights I would go to yoga all the way across town. I would walk there every time. At this same time, XXX would go for long runs at night in her neighborhood. The yoga studio I went to is one block from her apartment. While working at the bar I also ran a store in downtown XXX. I was only there two days a week, Wednesday and Saturday. One Saturday in the fall of 2007 XXX and a few of her friends were planning on going up to XXX to do a little downtown shopping and check out the town because they had never been there. XXX and her friends did not go because it was pouring rain that day. XXX made a list that was 3 pages long and very specific describing the person she wanted to meet and fall in love with. Some specifications were they had to be shorter than her, make her laugh, have dark hair, be spiritual etc…the list was exhaustive, but XXX knew her mate was out there. One day in the summer of 2007 a friend of XXX told her that her soulmate was close and that we would soon meet. Another friend of XXX told her she wanted to introduce her to another friend, she thought her and I would hit it off. It never worked out for us to meet up. A friend of mine really wanted to introduce me to another friend, she thought we would hit it off. It never happened that we could work the timing out for us to meet. These things went on for 3 years,XXX and I circled each other unbeknownst to one another… Then on December 11, 2007 I was working at the bar, it was a pretty slow Tuesday night with plenty of empty seats at my bar. In walked XXX, we caught each others eyes immediately and in that instant we each knew there was no one else. She sat down in front of me and we talked until her friends came that she was meeting. Next Tuesday, she came back to ask me out. It has since been two wonderful years and we have a lifetime ahead of us. XXX later told me that one day she was looking for her list that she made and after tearing apart every thing in her apartment (which is always exceptionally organized) she could not find it. She had found it in person! p.s. The friend that wanted to introduce XXX to me and me to XXX, we shared the same friend…


"A LOVELY MOMENT"
To keep it brief…..I’ve been married 22 (this June 25th) years to XXX and in the early days, I was physically stressed and sick from going through a divorce. I lived on the floor of my single wide, trying to figure out what I was going to do next with my life, and had met XXX at work some 2 months before. He knew I was struggling, even though I was not out there begging for help, and had made a “friend date” to take me to lunch and out for a pleasant Saturday. So I tenatively said yes, and waited for Saturday. On Saturday, our 10:00am meeting at my place didn’t happen. So I waited….no phone call, no XXX. About 1:00pm I decided to go out for lunch on my own….when a quiet knock on the door was heard. There stood XXX; slightly disheveled and dusty with tears in his eyes…..apologizing to me (?) because his car broke down, no phone on him, and he had walked about 6 miles to come see me so I wouldn’t be let down. Needless to say I wasn’t angry and totally melted for this gentleman and gentle man.


"SAVING THE BEST FOR FIRST"
Saving the best for first. I arrived at Indiana State University from my home in New Hampshire without knowing anyone, for the most part. I knew my buddy from the Army would be meeting me there following my first semester, he had convinced me to head to Terre Haute for school. Okay, and I was in contact with his brother who had a severe love for marijuana, but mostly I was alone. That didn’t last long. I had chosen political science as a major, and during orientation on the first day, I needed to schedule my classes. I was second in line behind a beautiful girl, wearing a black tank top and a rainbow colored full-length dress. Her name was XXX, and I remember thinking “man, if every girl here looks like XXX, this is the right place.” Turns out I didn’t need to search any farther than XXX. We would go to school events, the movies, and gradually we started dating. Whenever I would buy her jewelry, I looked for Alexis Bittar, and found Giving Tree while on a quest for AB. Four years later we are still together, and approaching our one year engagement anniversary. When I asked her to marry me, I used a Pablo Valencia ring from Giving Tree to substitute for the family heirloom ring she knew about (Thanks Mom). She said yes and now we are out on our own, attending graduate school at Syracuse University. Whether we are going out with our classmates in international relations and public relations, taking in a game at the Carrier Dome watching the #2 ranked Orangemen shut down their opponents, or sitting in class, I think back on how persistent I was, and how it is all worth it. Oh yeah, and a final note. Indiana State University’s slogan is “More…From Day One.” Normally I scoff at that notion, the school was mediocre at best, but every time o a friend or family member catches me griping, they say: “but you met XXX there, don’t forget that.” I never can forget, and I must admit, I got more from day one.

"A NEW OLD LOVE"
A few weeks ago, I reunited with an ex love after a 3 year separation! So, this Valentine’s month, I find myself in the delicious position of being all giddy and full of butterflies when first I see his face, and yet deeply comfortable and safe at home when he takes me in his arms. For all the years we were together we celebrated with gifts from Giving Tree, so this contest is very special to me. I’ve been out of work in this crazy economy for more than a year, so winning would mean we could yet again celebrate our love with a gift from GT. Thanks for providing a place where you can just go and know that every piece you find will be a treasure and you just can’t go wrong! And wish me and this sweet man love and luck in this next go round!! Happiness and Romance for us all in 2010!


"LOCKED IN THE NATIONAL ZOO"
I am very oblivious when it comes to men trying to get my attention. When I first met XXX over two years ago I turned the poor guy down for his happy hour requests right and left, and it wasn’t because I didn’t like him. I am just the type of person who’d rather go home and relax after a long day at work. He finally asked me to grab some food after work one day in 2007. Well, he got me there. I love food! After much debate we decided to metro to the Woodley Park Adams Morgan area in DC and eat at Lebanese Taverna. After confessing that we both liked each other over dinner and eliminating the awkwardness we decided to walk up the street and walk around the National Zoo and chat. We sat on a bench in the middle of the zoo and chatted it up for over an hour. We got up and walked toward the gate, yet, to our surprise the front gate was shut! We were locked in! Meanwhile we are laughing and carrying on trying to figure out how to get out of the Zoo. People walking down the street couldn’t help but stop and chat with us through the large metal gate, and help us plan our escape. We made it up and over the 10 ft. spiked fence after about 10 minutes. Meanwhile I also was wearing a dress and got stuck at the top for a minute! Once I got down we couldn’t help but laugh and talk about it for the next few days. What a great story we will be able to tell well into the future. I love you.

FEBRUARY IS OFF TO A GREAT START...

Because it started in New York City! In a few short days (and still fighting our winter colds) we accomplished (and were enriched) SO MUCH! First, we did the big 'show' at the Javitz Center. Lots and lots of jewelry artists attend, so it was great to catch up with some of our favorite people, like Phaedra (the 'daughter' half of Lily Barrack!). We were also on a mission to sequester the greatest, hottest, (soon to be coveted) NEW PIECES! And this quest led us right to LEIGHELENA out of Austin Texas. The best part of this 'find' was that it actually came from the beautiful, wonderful 'best friend a girl could ask for' Sarah Nordstrom. While travelling with Rachel in Los Angeles in January (bless her heart, I am CRAZY!)Sarah found these cuffs in a store just off the boardwalk on Venice Beach. Besides being the best friend, Sarah has AMAZING taste, so I knew, if Sarah loved these, this line was a winner! The fact that Leighe, the artist, was the most warm, wonderful and enthusiastic person around just made this new addition all the more perfect. She even let us take 5 cuffs to get on the site ASAP (see pic! will be online very soon!) That was just above and beyond anything we could have asked for! Our collection for Leighelena will feature these gorgeous leather cuffs (the best leather we have seen, and trust me, we've looked!) with one of a kind enamel discs on top. Leighe does all the enamel work by hand WITH HER MOM (is this a match made in heaven or what) and her super cool boyfriend Jimmy, who was at her side for the show, does the leather work. The other part of our collection will be cuffs with the gold 'buckle and pin' closure. When I tell you these are SO HOT.. you can take my word for it, or you can check out People Magazines 'style watch' section in about 2 weeks. I love the serendipity of this last point, because it was about.. 13 years ago that Judith found a brand new artist who, just WEEKS after becoming an artist at GTJ, was in this very same section of the magazine..none other than Jeanine Payer! (My mom really is the most amazing at finding the very greatest things..)



Allow me to celebrate 'the Judith' for a moment (or a few) more! The next day, we headed back into the city for all our show room appointments. These are seriously fun for us because we get a lot of one on one time with the artists. In fact, on Friday, GTJ'S ARTIST OF THE WEEK video series will start up again with a brand new video..
But first, check out this super cool pic. of Judith in Soho.. and check out the billboard we found, for Alexis Bittar! Even though it was with my blackberry, I think this picture rocks! (Must have been my time hanging out with first rate photographers Pete and Jamie!)


There are no pictures of yours truly, because you will see more than enough in our ARTIST OF THE WEEK video on Friday with MARY JANE MARCASIANO the phenomenal woman beyond our MADE WITH LOVE jewelry line, which is hands down, the most inspiring example of charity work I have ever come across. If you are unfamilar with this line, please check it out on our site! Mary Jane travels to Brazil, Africa and Haiti, where she has set up studios and employs indigenous women to create the wonderful jewelry we sell. Beyond this amazing action, Made With Love then donates the proceeds from their pieces back to the community in ways that aid children (2 new schools were opened in Senegal in the last 2 years thanks to Mary Jane's work!) This woman is truly my inspiration, and you will 'meet' her in the video! Here is a shot of some MADE WITH LOVE pieces from Brazil we will be adding in time for Valentines Day. Judith went crazy in this studio, she loved everything! The fact that Mary Jane was a designer for Prada and has worked in the fashion industry for over 25 years is totally evident in all MADE WITH LOVE pieces. They are IMPORTANT AND MEANINGFUL, BUT ALSO ABSOLUTELY FASHION FORWARD!
(My fingers almost can't keep up with my excitement :))
After this great meeting, we headed to Alex & Ani and had a blast shopping all the new Spring pieces from their collection! However, this is where Judith developed her habit of wanting the pieces that were all.. set aside, in little pretty cases.. meaning, the very CREAM OF THE CROP.. So that is what we will be carrying! It is as if she had a magnet attached to her, that just 'pulled' her to the pieces that were the very best in every line!




The shopping day ended on an absolute 'higher than high' note when we went to the showroom of a BRAND NEW ARTIST for us.. Anna Sheffield! Anna is the completely glorious woman behind one of the most trend setting and well respected lines of jewelry out there, BING BANG. Rachel has followed and adored Anna's work for YEARS now, and when she debuted her eponymous line ANNA SHEFFIELD, we knew it was time to add her to our collection of artists. This will inevitably turn out to be one of the best decisions we ever made, because not only is the work ABSOLUTELY STUNNING (and just the right amount of 'edgy' /cutting edge/rock and roll while still being feminine and beautiful) Anna herself is truly one of the most kind hearted, driven, soulful and passionate women we have ever met! Along with Jana, our fabulous new rep, Anna was absolutely welcoming and is so excited to be a part of the Giving Tree family. And we can match her excitement completely...and not just because she has a collection of tattoos that made Rachel swoon! She is the real deal, and it will be an honor to carry her gorgeous line.



And again, Judith bee lined for the case that was set aside, and Anna and Jana were wonderful enough to let us go home with this earring/necklace set. Here is a picture of Judith trying them on. She may look 'serious' but trust me, it was just because she was SERIOUSLY IN LOVE with these pieces!

So many amazing things.. all coming .. so soon.. on www.givingtreejewelry.com!!

Finally, this wouldn't be a typical post from me, if I didn't mention a couple of things that have nothing to do with jewelry, and everything to do with the beautiful sense of connection we feel with you, our customers and friends, and the power of this connection and the good (for the world, and our hearts) it can do!

After our day at the show rooms, we drove uptown to see a show at the Guggenheim we were both absolutely determined to see while we were in NYC. It is a work by Berlin artist Tino Sehgal, and I would rather just have everyone see it (or read about it) rather than telling you the whole thing...but basically, it is about.. our collective humanity, our ability to connect to one another, and make a beautiful, if ephemeral, impression on one another. Needless to say, I was crying through the entire...experience.. and couldn't help but think of all my 'links' and how we just keep bringing each other joy.. without even 'meeting' in many cases!

And about that healing the world.. Well I am beyond thrilled to announce that through your purchases of the LOVE MANTRA/HAITI RELIEF pendant, we raised over $2,000 for Haiti! And not only that, but we inspired some amazing things! Just today, I received this beautiful note from a woman I haven't spoken to since highschool (and yes, that is quite a few years)



Hello Rachel, I'm not sure if you remember me but Jenn brought it to my attention that you are doing fundraising for Haiti (we graduated together from TA). Not only am I of Haitian decent but I have an organization that has adopted two schools in Haiti, one of which has been completely destroyed. I just wanted to thank you for trying to do your part in helping to rebuild a country I love deeply and I mourn for daily. But we are hopeful in its rebirth and I am grateful to all of those who have CHOSEN to be a part of it in ways great and small. Take care and all the best. Saran



This is actually a letter to all of you, that made this possible, THANK YOU! (and I am crying again!) Saran and her fiancee leave for Haiti on Sunday, and she will be wearing a Love Mantra necklace to keep her safe and inspired.


I end this gigantic rambling with a heart full of gratitude, and a spirit completely enthused and bursting with excitement for all the beautiful things we will all get to celebrate.. this month of love (the love stories are AMAZING, keep them coming!) and beyond.

What a gift this is.
With so much LOVE! (the perpetual word of the day)
Rachel