From my Heart to Yours
Kerri & Dale 1979
Dale and I have been together a while, this will be our 30th Valentine’s Day together. I know, some of you believe that Valentine’s Day is just another manufactured holiday promoted by the greeting card, flower and candy companies to sell their products. Others, such as some of my links on Facebook say, “Bah-hum-bug. We don’t need a day to be told to celebrate our love.”
Growing up in the home city of Hallmark Cards, we might have been targeted for the advertising and hype earlier than others. Of course, we know not just one day of showing love and appreciation does a relationship make, but what’s the harm of celebrating a day of love? It’s better than celebrating a day of hate.
Kerri & Dale 2009 (Photo by Kevin Pieper)
The truth is, we’ve always kind of had fun with Valentine’s Day. Part of it could also be that it is close to Dale’s birthday, so we both used to give –and get – presents.
There was the year I gave Dale the hokey little 70s era statue that had two people giving each other a kiss. The inscription: “Forever and Always,” a sign-off we still use to this day on cards to each other.
That same year, which might have been our first Valentine’s Day, Dale had a dozen red roses delivered to my high school. His aunt was the secretary and allowed the deliveryman to bring them to me in French class no less, now that’s saying “Je t’adore!” (I think I got that right, it’s been a long time since French class!)
Over the years, I’ve received flowers, jewelry, tapes and CDs, candy, perfume, clothes, and yes, always the Hallmark card.
Several of those things made it the move to The Little House. Dale still has that little statue packed in one of the boxes marked with his name that is now stored in our metal building.
I have the jewelry, CDs, and one special bottle of perfume (Cinnabar), but perhaps the Valentine’s Day gift that I treasure most, especially now, when most things in our lives must be functional due to the amount of space, is my heart shaped waffle maker.
Making heart shaped waffles
That’s right; Dale violated the rule of no appliances early in our marriage and gave me a waffle maker that presses out heart shaped waffles.
It was ok because not only were the waffles the cutest, as well as good tasting, he made the waffles for me.
This year, as in the year I received it, Valentine’s Day falls on Sunday, so I will once again look forward to my heart shaped waffles for Sunday brunch. We’ll eat our brunch, exchange those cards, snuggle in for some movies and enjoy another day of our marriage.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
What was the most memorable gift you have given or received on Valentine’s Day?
scrumptious! ;). Thank you for sharing
Not sure if you remember me but we were in the same class. My grandmother lived three houses up. I could not beleive when i scrolled through the blog and the picture from 1979 came up. I knew who it was in a second. Myself an Sondra have been togather for 26 years and will soon be building on Jasper Mountain in Ark. We must travel by your place when we go there. We have been looking at living in a smaller space and trying to go green in the process. We would very much like to set up a time one of these days to stop in and see what you two have accomplished and try to get some do’s and dont’s from what you hav learned. Have a great day and we will talk to you later.
Of course I remember you, Brian! Wow, I can’t believe you found the blog! When I saw the name on the comments, I thought, “I used to know a Brian Jones.” How funny, Dale and I were just talking about you the other day when we were talking about the old neighborhood. I think of 56th Terr. often and of your grandparents. Are you on FB? There’s lots of people from Turner on there.
Yes! Definitely contact us when you’re in the area and we’ll plan on having you and Sondra over to our house.
Know those waffles were as sweet as ever. Hope you had a cozy loving day! What a sweet Love Story without end!
Aw! Thirty years is a lot to celebrate. I find it incredibly cool. Congratulations.
Thanks, Meredith and Tammy!
You 2 are so cute! What a sweet story. 🙂 Hugs to both of you.
I have this same waffle maker! (I also have a picture of my husband and I that looks a lot like you and Dale!) We laugh about this waffle iron because when the waffles are ready it emits a high pitched shriek that would wake the dead! It scares the fool out of anyone in the kitchen that is not familiar with it’s warning system that the waffles are done. Now that I have read your post, I have a new view of this challenging appliance and will celebrate this Valentine’s Day (our 34th) with special waffles!
Oh, Jan, you had me LOL, 🙂 That’s a great description of that annoying alarm!
Enjoy those waffles!
My husband and I are celebrating our 40th Valentines Day. We started dating when we were only 15, that year I remember him giving me a stuffed animal beautifully wrapped by his mother. Enjoyed seeing your pictures.
I was 15 too, she bear, but Dale was an “old man” at 18. We were afraid of my parent’s reaction at first and hid it from them for a couple of months. 🙂
You guys are still as cute as ever! I too imposed a ban on appliances-as-gifts early in our marriage. A vacuum is NOT romantic! However- heart shaped waffle maker is in a class by itself! How sweet!
I agree, Kathy. I threatened Dale that if I ever received pots and pans for Christmas, he would get hit with them! 🙂
However, you’re right, the waffle maker is something else. Sweet, especially with all that syrup! 🙂
Loved the photos! I was married to one man for 20 years, and now to a second for 11 after 10 years co-habitation. But I do take my hat off to you and Dale for 30, that’s great. Happy Valentine’s Day to you both!
Thanks, Alexandra. We just know no one else would put up with us! 🙂
Thanks, Mary!
What a sweet story. Happy days ahead to both of you. Mary Nida