Why it's Always Valentines Day

Almost 34 years ago my life as I knew it came to a complete stop and changed forever. I had been the high school bad boy, now a senior and getting ready to graduate. I had big plans of joining the US Army and seeing the world.

I was sitting with my best friend Randy, and my current girl friend, when this girl I had never seen before walked into the class room. It was the beginning of 1976. I knew I had never seen this girl before because I made it my business to check out all the girls.

Randy leaned over to me and asked who she was, the only reply that came out of my mouth was my future wife. At this point some words were exchanged between my current girl and I, and she stormed out. Randy said I was in way over my head because this new girl had class and she was so far out of my league.

I finally asked for her number because I could not find anyone who had it. So after almost a full week since I first saw her, I finally called under the premise that it was something for school. I was crushed when she asked me about a guy we both knew from JROTC, my competition was a guy named Richard! Richard was the all american high school over achiever. I had to think of something quick, "He's gay, hates girls."

She did not believe me, so I had to do my best to convince her that I was better in more ways then Richard. My ally turned out to be this girls mom. During an open house, I got to meet this girl's mother, Sharon. I layed it on so thick it made me sick. When Sharon got home she told her daughter that she liked me better than Richard, that I had more manners and I seemed like a nicer guy, and I had curly hair. I finlly got my foot in the door.

Sharon regreted her recommendation for many years because she thought her daughter could do better than me. But finally before she passed we came together and talked things out and we got along great for the rest of her life.

I was still the bad boy, old habits die hard, but this girl saw something others didn't. She brought out the best in me, believed in me, loved me, saved me.

On the other hand I taught her how to ditch class and sign her mom's name to her school excuses. Not exactly an even trade, but it worked for us.

So I joined the Army as planned after graduation. Then in March of 1977 I took this girl to Vegas and eloped.

My family is still over joyed and thankful for this woman, because without her they know I would have ended up in one of two places, jail or dead, maybe both.

This lady was saved as a small child at VBS and wanted a family who went to church as a family. That was her dream. She pulled it off, she got me back on the path of following Christ, made sure we raised our three daughters in church and now a grandbaby.

People talk of legacy, and what is left after we are gone. Our family's legacy of being Christ followers is because of this special lady.

On March 5th, of this year we will celebrate 32 years of marriage. Her faith in God, her courage, her support and love has kept me going for all this time.

While I was serving during the first Gulf War, she wrote and sent me a letter every single day while I was deployed, I still have them.

So when I say it's Valentines day everyday it's because in my heart it is.

I still get that same feeling inside now when I see her as I did that first time I saw her back in that classroom in 1976,

I have said it often, and it still holds true, without Stacy, I am nothing.