Page 3 - 2017 Valentine's Day Writing Contest Winner

person and he never does that. He thought I might have cast a spell on him. He was doing
things he didn’t normally do.

Dating for us was a little unconventional. We usually had our kids with us sometimes
even when we planned for it to be otherwise. We both agreed dating was not really for us but
that was okay. We became engaged in February and were married in June. It was a small
ceremony with friends and family at my sister’s house. I was excited about relocating to South
Texas. In the middle of wedding plans, we stored our things at his parents’ house as we waited
for our house in Katy, Texas to close. Tropical Storm Allison came and we lost it all. My aunt in
all her wisdom had said to me a week before—new husband, new job, new house—wouldn't it
be cool if you could get all new furnishings too. That’s what happened but not how we thought
it would. In a lot of ways, it was nice to start with our own things instead of things from our
previous life.

As time went by, I decided to go back to school to be a school counselor. Doug went
with me to the University of Saint Thomas and waited on me when I had night classes. I felt like
we did it together. I spent the last ten years of my career as a school counselor and loved it!
Doug was my number one volunteer whether it was grilling hot dogs for kids or making signs.
He did anything I needed him to do. I felt like the experiences we had had as a family helped me
to be a better counselor – one with empathy and strength.

Things have been magical as we have grown together. We bought a 1907 cottage in
Galveston and have spent more than four years in renovations. We have been there each
weekend and all of our vacation days working on it. Everything that Doug has done to the house
has been a labor of love. There are many times he will say, “This is all for you, baby!” He
designed and build a craft room for me that is amazing. He puts thought into everything he
does. He makes me feel treasured and so loved.

I love when we can’t make up our minds about what to do next but he keeps waiting
because he knows I already have a plan in my head. He completes my world. There are times
that we don’t have to talk. We know just what the other is thinking. I love hunting with him for
treasures and how sometimes we end up in an aggressive hunt for one certain item that leads
us to more than one town and ten stores.

I am retired now and we have five grandchildren. We share a vision for our future
together. The life I pictured at eighteen is not the life I have now. It is so much more than I
could have imagined. My life has been more because of Doug. We didn’t intend to fall in love
but we did. I married my best friend and I believe that is the reason our life together has been
so incredible.