As a romance writer, I enjoy a good love story. So every year on my birthday, I like to do a giveaway where anyone who shares a true love story is entered. This way, we all win!
If you don’t know my love story, you can read about it in this month’s issue of Idaho Magazine. Basically, my husband proposed to me in the same theater where the movie based on my book Finding Love in Big Sky premiered earlier this year. Click here to see more.
My story is a romance, but your love story doesn’t have to be. It can be about a family member, friend, or even a stranger who showed you love when you needed it most. These are the stories that change our lives, and I look forward to having my heart touched by all the beautiful ways your lives have been changed.
Usually, I give away a necklace, but I don’t want to exclude our male reader(s). Also, I found some cute leather heart bookmarks online, so I’m excited to gift these to the winner.
While I’m giving things away, I’ve also got an early Christmas gift for every one of you. Click here to download Christmas Ella for free.
Other ways I’m celebrating my birthday include:
- Going to lunch with my mom like I do every year because I was born on her birthday.
- Fondue and game night with my whole fam. Click here for my simple and scrumptious chocolate fondue recipe. (Don’t worry. There will be cake too. We’ll dip it in the chocolate fondue, of course.)
- Writing this blog on a new computer that my husband bought me as an early present because my last computer died.
I won’t tell you how old I am today, but I will tell you that it’s been an unexpectedly great year for writing. While I didn’t have a single book release in 2022, I enjoyed the crud out of having my movie premiere. And even though my novel Husband Auditions didn’t win a Christy Award, it was an honor to be picked as a finalist, which I also enjoyed the crud out of. Not to mention, I signed contracts for three more manuscripts. Hero Debut and We Three Kings come out next year, so I look forward to sharing more about those in 2023.
Now it’s your turn to share. Simply comment with a real-life love story, enjoy all the other love stories told, and watch for a winner to be announced tomorrow.
Happy birthday to me, and merry Christmas to all! See you in the new year.
Marti says
The best love story I can think of is my grandparents. My grandpa was born in 1920, in New Mexico. While my grandma was born in 1922, in Indiana. My grandma’s family moved to New Mexico, where her dad was the principal at the high school that both of my grandparents attended. They started dating during high school, and into college. But after the attack on Pearl Harbor, my grandpa dropped out of school to enlist. He was stationed in California in 1942, when he finally got a leave that allowed enough time to get back to New Mexico. It was 48 hours! He managed to get a train, and grandma found a ride as well. Even though it was a Saturday they somehow found a county clerks office that was open, and they got a marriage license. After a really quick wedding, grandpa was on another train, to get back before being awol. After returning from war, grandpa started building a family business. They had six children, and later eleven grandchildren, plus great grandchildren. They were married for sixty-nine years.
Renate says
Hi Angela! My love story is my German parents post WW2 story. My Berlin father was returning Berlin to his mother and his home after being a prisoner of war in Leningrad, Russia. My mom was on a train to Hamburg after the Russians destroyed and confiscated her family home in East Prussia at the Siege of Kaliningrad. (The War in Ukraine is familiar to our family.)
Mom and Dad met on a train and began corresponding. My dad proposed my mail. Mom sent the ring back. My dad wasn’t a believer at the time. Both mothers intervened. My parents were married at the beginning of the Berlin Airlift (July 1948). Berlin was divided in 4 sectors. Some relatives lived in the East. Food was rationed. The wedding dress came from America. My dad was mortified, because at the time it was tradition to have a 3 day wedding celebration, but due to rationing they ran out of potatoes on Day 1 and the wedding guest went home.
Life was a struggle. My Great Uncle Otto lived in USA (he immigrated from the Ukraine at the beginning of WW1 from the Ukraine). My parents and myself immigrated to the USA in 1955. My parents learned a new language, culture, and traditions. They were married 59 years when my mom passed in 2007.
Trudy says
My story isn’t a typical love story. It just happened this year, too. I had a big birthday this year, and didn’t want to celebrate alone. Plus, the day before my birthday is my parents anniversary, so I wanted to celebrate on my actual day, since both parents are now in heaven. So, I threw myself a party. I way over invited, so that maybe there would be more than just me and one friend. It turned out, I had 15 friends join me for my “Dutch Treat” birthday at Fujiyama! It was one of my best birthdays ever!! One of my friends had volunteered to help, and she got there early to decorate the table we would be using. It was so much fun! My oldest sister, my youngest niece, and her daughter were part of the 15, too. So much fun!!
Melissa Henderson says
Happy Birthday Angela! Have a blessed day!
Jan Olmstead says
My husband proposed while we were walking in a cow pasture, 44 years ago!
Hannah F. says
This isn’t my love story, but one I got to witness. When I was a young child, my dad attended a Bible school and we lived in a rented house. A couple single ladies from the school lived in the studio apartment in the basement. One of these sweet ladies was completely deaf. My siblings and I enjoyed learning some sign language so we could say hello to her even though she read lips and talked. Well, one young man at this bible school decided that he wanted to experience what this lady walked through everyday. So he bought himself a pair of green, noise canceling headphones and downloaded onto them the buzzing sound she heard in her head everyday. He wore these headphones absolutely everywhere for, I think, a week or longer. He then learned sign language so he could communicate better with her. Now they are married and have a couple cute little boys. Personally, I think their love story is the sweetest. He genuinely took to heart the idea of stepping into someone else’s shoes.
Vicky Sluiter says
I want to share my special love story; it involves my husband and my daughter. I’ll keep it short!
Many years ago (boy, how time flies!) I was a single mom with a three year old daughter. I began dating Jim, but just wasn’t sure I was ready for a committed relationship. My daughter had other plans, however,
Jim and Heather fell in love with each other. When we didn’t see him for a few days the constant questions were, “Where’s Mr. Jim?” “When can I see Mr. Jim?” Because my daughter’s heart was so invested, it made me pause and look at this relationship differently. To be willing to open my heart.
October of 2022 we celebrated our 41st wedding anniversary. A year into our marriage he legally adopted Heather, and she’s definitely a Daddy’s girl. I still tease Jim that he fell in love with Heather, first. What a guy I’ve been blessed with!
Megan says
Happy Birthday to you! My love story is about my Mom. My whole life she’s been the person I knew I could go to for anything and she’d make it better somehow. She understands me and puts up with me in a way a lot of people don’t. Her love has been a huge example in my life of hoe to do things right, sith the right motivations to help people and make things better than they were when you found them.
Margie Harris says
My childhood in the 50’s was truly a time I was loved. We had a Father Knows Best/Leave it to Beaver family. Mom was a stay at home mom and we panicked if she was home when we got in from school. I had 2 sisters and 1 brother however I was the only one that wasn’t my dad’s. My birth dad was killed at Normandy when I was a week old. The man I called Dad had been roommates and best friend with my birthday dad and after the war he came to give is condolances to my mom. I was 3 1/2 when they married and unless we told them no one knew I wasn’t his actually daughter. In fact we were often told I was the one that looked and acted most like him. I was blessed to help take care of my grandparents and parents as they aged (98, 89, 90 and 92 at time of deaths). I knew they all loved me and I loved them. I’m still very close with my two living siblings.
Melissa Wardwell says
Happy birthday, Angela! I pray you have a blessed day.
Lincoln says
My sweetie and I met at church. Her first impression of me was, “What did the cat drag in?” Thankfully, she didn’t say it out loud! Our relationship grew through working together in coordinating the singles ministry at church. She, however, was dealing with the aftermath of a traumatic first marriage. We like to say that I was the man of her dreams. The dreams, though, were nightmares :). Actually, her dream was of being pursued by a cloaked and hooded man, fear driving her to escape. When she could flee no longer she turned to the approaching figure who reached up and pulled back his hood. It was me and I wrapped her in arms of safety and the fear washed away. The real me took a bit longer to open up but she had the right idea :).
Happy birthday to you and your Mom, both! And a very merry Christmas to all! (see white beard in profile picture, lol.)
Margie Harris says
noticed it should have said: if she wasn’t home when we got in from school.
Peggy Clayton says
Hi Angela Happy Birthday to you the one where I felt loved was in 1973 and the guy who lived across the street had a brother who was a mechanic. He came to rebuild my engine then started asking me out on dates. He was very nice grew up in SF and had a great smile. One weekend he told me he wanted to take me out so I said yes. I came home from the Millbrae Art and Wine Festival and my entire room at my grandmas was filled with roses there must of been 12 dozen of them stuffed in. I was floored and so happy the smell was wonderful then he picked me up for the date and there in the car was my girlfriend I was happy and surprised. Next thing I know we are heading up to Sf and wow did we have a great time he took us to the windiest road then down the steepest hill. He took us all over SF then he took us to the wharf and we ate at Alioto’s and that was amazing. he ordered for us as he knew we were the kind of girls that would order the cheapest. I was brought up in a few abusive foster homes and she grew up in a wonderful home but they always were living on a tight budget. After dinner we were so full and so grateful it was like I was Cinderella for a night. I got to my grandmothers and had the sweet smell of the roses for many days. He is my daughters father although he turned 21 and then many devices turned the wonderful man into a someone I no longer knew,
Angela Ruth Strong says
He went awol to marry her? So romantic.
Angela Ruth Strong says
I love how love can make the trying times worth celebrating. ❤️
Angela Ruth Strong says
I love this! Way to love yourself. ❤️ And happy belated birthday.
Angela Ruth Strong says
Thank you, Melissa. Merry Christmas.
Angela Ruth Strong says
Holy cow! ;-) Spontaneous?
Merrillee Whren says
Happy birthday.
Angela Ruth Strong says
How beautiful!
Angela Ruth Strong says
How fitting that his name is Jim. ❤️ What a hero.
Angela Ruth Strong says
Your mom is what I aspire to be for my kids. How special. ❤️
Angela Ruth Strong says
Thank you, Melissa. Merry Christmas. ❤️
Angela Ruth Strong says
What a wonderful love story. I can relate to you wife, and the man of my dreams has a white beard now too. Merry Christmas to you both.
Marti says
Yep! 😍
Angela Ruth Strong says
Oh, I’m glad you can still savor that beautiful memory even if things got ugly. I’m sorry for your loss as I can relate. And I pray that many have made you feel loved since.
Angela Ruth Strong says
Thank you so much. Merry Christmas, Merrillee!
Lori johannes says
My love story starts when I was going door to door selling Avon. This guy answered the door and I asked for the lady of the house. He said there isn’t one and what was I selling? I told him and he said he loves Avon products. I would call him every other week asking if he needed anything and he always gave me an order. We’d end up talking on the phone for hours. It was hard for me to do because I had 3 children, 2 which were in diapers and I worked full time.
He finally asked me out. We went out to a cardinals baseball game and that was almost 36 years ago. We are still together today and all my kids are grown with kids of their own.
He always says when he saw me standing at his front door with flip flops on, he fell in love.
Renee says
I’m currently waiting for a good love story!
Right now, the closest I get is my writing mentor, Dani, who is a wonderful source of encouragement and a group of writer friends I met at a retreat who are supportive of my writing efforts.
I mean, my kids love me and all, but they’re teenagers, so, you know… :-)
Sonnetta Jones says
Happy Birthday Angela! I think of my sister and her husband. He noticed her first during a church service. God orchestrated everything for you.
Kendra Muonio says
My grandma and grandpa where married 70 years before she died suddenly on March 24 2020 she was 90 but it was still really sudden after she fell my mom and dad have been married 29 years
Happy birthday to you
Kendra Muonio says
It’s also my brothers birthday today he turns 4
RuthieH says
Happy birthday Angela! I’ve loved reading your love story and all the others here today.
My husband and I met through a soulmates lonely hearts column in a newspaper. He was working in the middle East at the time and we wrote to each other via email (this was the early 2000s, before smart phones and dating apps and zoom!).
He came back to the UK for his sister’s wedding, and we arranged to meet up. At the time I was sharing a flat with two friends, Christy and Georgia, and Christy was quite unwell with bad depression and mental health issues, he family were a long way away so Georgia and I were looking after her a lot. The night I had arranged to meet my now husband, Georgia suddenly had to work late, we were worried about leaving Christy alone. She called me and said what was so important about meeting this guy, and couldn’t I just go out some other night, to which I replied no, this was the man I was going to marry (we hadn’t even met, or mentioned arrange at this point, but I just knew!) and I needed to meet him for the first time before he went away again and I wouldn’t get the chance for months!
She was a great friend and changed her shift, Christy over time got better and today is happy and well, and I did meet my husband for the first time that night, and I was right, he was the man I married a couple of years later.
Nina Yahnke says
I think my love story is quite romantic. I began having dreams of my husband when I was around 3 years old. I would play house and say “Dan pick up your socks.” I got tired of waiting for this perfect man I’d been dreaming about and started dating. I went with my boyfriend at the time to a trapping convention and saw this younger guy with his family and I felt magnetically attracted but gave it up as he was much too young. I played with his younger siblings for the day though. Fast forward around 10 years and I had just been diagnosed with cervical cancer. I hadn’t told anyone but my friend invited me to a healing and prayer conference. I decided to go. The night before, just before I fell asleep, I heard God audibly speak and he told me “tomorrow you will meet your husband.” I freaked out and messaged a few friends and packed and unpacked my bags for the weekend. I decided to just dress normal and only do my normal makeup. I get to the conference and check in. 5 minutes after arriving, this man walks in and I immediately know it’s him. I keep sneaking peaks at him and the conference organizer kept pairing us up for activation exercises. I hang out with his younger sister a lot and am just like, okay, letting God handle this. That night, I’d had flashbacks of every dream of him, but this time was able to remember. The next day, I see he is struggling with something and he left early to return to his room. That night, I’m used as an example, the guy said, “Let’s say Nina has cancer and I command that cancer to leave now in Jesus name, it must leave.” He didn’t know I had cancer, I hadn’t told anyone but family. I felt warmth go thru my body and knew I’d been healed.
I’m talking to his dad and sister after and I say that I know Dan isn’t going to continue as he is and want to encourage him. They invite me up to the hotel room and I share my testimony and then tell Dan that he’s going to do all these amazing things in the future. He’s like how do you know this. I replied that I dreamt it. He’s like why were you dreaming of me? I said that I was there too. He’s like wait a minute, are we married?. I replied no comment and he’s like oh no, we are talking about this. Are we really going to be married? We ended up spending the entire night talking and then didn’t talk for a few days as we considered everything.
I went to the doctor for my final pre op appointment and was declared cancer free by my Hindu doctor and got to share about Jesus. Dan reached out to me and we began courting. My mom reminded me of my invisible husband Dan growing up. The I found out that the kid at the trapping convention was him. Lol. He’d also joked for years before that he’d know he met the right woman because she would tell him.
He proposed to be in a flower and butterfly garden and we got married 3.5 months after meeting because we didn’t see the point in waiting when God obviously brought us together. 10.5 years later we are still disgustingly in love as my family and his says.
Diana says
Unbeknownst to me I met my husband in church one day. He prayed for the Lord to show him his wife and I sat next to him in church that Sunday. We both worked night and evening shifts so didn’t see much of each other until we started dating a year later. We married 10 months after we started dating. We’ve been married 42 years. I had prayed for a husband who knew the Bible and took it seriously. God certainly fulfilled that request. He knows the Bible really well. When my oldest daughter met the man she married, she said,” Mom who’s the only one who knows the Bible like Dad.”
Lelia (Lucy) Reynolds says
Happy Birthday 🎁. My love story is a beauty for ashes tale. I was in an abusive marriage and I met a friends family at church. Unknown to me her brother had a crush on me but never told anyone. I moved 900 miles away to escape with my sister and 20 years later he found me on Facebook. We became friends started talking and we were married in 2013. He brought healing to my brokenness.
Shirley Strait says
Happy Birthday!!
My love story isn’t a new one but it is special to me.
I met my husband in the 10th grade. I was asked by our world history teacher to tutor him. I did and found him to be a sweet quiet fellow. He passed history and I found a friend.
Two years later, our senior year he asked me out in September. He proved to me Valentine’s weekend of our senior year.
I married my best friend after a year of college.
Seven and a half years later our first child was born after years of trying to conceive. Over the next 11 years we added 4 more children to our home.
Thirty-four years later a virus hit his heart and he went from a vigorous working g man to 100% disabled in 24 hours. We were told to expect him to live 5 years. I told him good-bye 11 1/2 years later. I was blessed to be his wife, best friend, and caregiver to the end Dec 12, 4 years ago. We had 45 1/2 years together.
I love him and still miss him.
Deborah D says
Angela,
My love story has to do with one Christmas when I was about eight years old.
I was born with cerebral palsy and was never able to ride a bike. I was born almost 50 years ago and back then there was no hand cycles. My parents did the next best thing and got the 1980 version ( it was that year because my mom was pregnant with my sister). Which was a tricycle. They used bungee cords to keep my feet on the pedals. My mom ( with a big belly) kneeling on the basement floor helping me peddle the tricycle. I never was able to really ride the bike but at least for a little while I felt like every other kid with my own bike.
Angela Ruth Strong says
He must have loved you and all three children! That’s love times three!!!
Angela Ruth Strong says
That’s a huge gift!!! And those teens do love you too. ;-)
Angela Ruth Strong says
Aww… That’s a great place to meet a good man. <3
Angela Ruth Strong says
Lasting love is the best kind of love. <3
Angela Ruth Strong says
Happy birthday to him!!!
Angela Ruth Strong says
When you know you know. Thank God for great friends!
Angela Ruth Strong says
Wowza! I love it all. I love healing from cancer. I love dreams. I love butterfly gardens. And I love being disgustingly in love. <3 Thank you for sharing.
Angela Ruth Strong says
Aww… What a man. <3
Angela Ruth Strong says
I have a story like that too. It makes you appreciate love even more, doesn’t it?
Angela Ruth Strong says
Shirley, that’s beautiful. Many people wish for a love so sweet and enduring. I’m sorry it’s over, but I’m glad it happened.
Angela Ruth Strong says
Oh, my heart. <3 Sweet memories like that color the world beautiful, don't they? Thank you for sharing your joy.
Angela Royster says
My grandparents were married 53 years and it was the greatest love story I’ve ever witnessed. My grandfather doted on her and was so loving in his quirky way. They were so sweet insisting on kissing before they left in the car, went to work etc because they said at least they would have one last kiss if something happened.
Angela Ruth Strong says
What a beautiful example of marriage. <3
Gabrielle Wilson says
My parents where high school sweethearts and this year they celebrated 50 years married.
I meet husband when I was 16 and he was 21y mom said no way. Fast forward three years I am 19 and he is 21 and everything is fine then. We got engaged fast waited 4 years to marry and just celebrated our 21st anniversary on the 15. I wouldn’t change a thing except pushing to be with him when I was younger despite mom.
Connie Hendryx says
My husband proposed to me sitting on his front porch at 8:30 pm on August 5, 1984….and I laughed when he proposed (hurt his feelings a bit!)–but I was so surprised with his proposal (of course I said YES!). Married in April 1985 and are more in love now than before! I am SO blessed!!
Janet says
Hi Angela,
Thank you for your post and Happy Birthday!
Friendships mean a lot to me. When I was younger, I met a very genuine Christian woman, Marge, in church. She helped me with questions I had about God and helped me with my faith. I attended a Sunday school class where she was the teacher, and we became very good friends. She was there for me when my mother passed away, which was very hard for me as I was very close to my mother. Marge has since passed away, but I will never forget her friendship. She was a true friend!
bn100 says
Happy birthday!
Debra Pruss says
Happy birthday. When I was dating my husband. We would spend time walking around the boardwalk downtown overlooking the Maumee River. One evening while we were walking, a gentleman was sitting on the bank fishing. He had a radio playing. It was playing a song called, “Lady in Red”. I had never heard it before. My now husband took me in his arms and started dancing on the boardwalk to the song. Thank you for sharing. Merry Christmas. God bless you.
Jennifer Hibdon says
My love story is still going. He walked into my hotel for a several day stay for work. He would visit with me when he came in each evening. We were engaged 3 weeks later. He wanted to get married right away. I had Army National Guard Annual Training and said I couldn’t put a wedding together until after that was over. We married 9 weeks after meeting!
Jennifer Hibdon says
Happy Birthday to both your Mom and you. Two beautiful ladies!!!
ausjenny says
happy belated birthday. (Today was Dads Birthday).
The first time Mum saw dad she was leading a Christian Endevour group for one of the first times. Mum saw this man come in and it was Dad. They had been praying for him during the war and he was now out with a medical discharge. I think it was love at first sight but took til New Years Eve before Dad realises. Someone asked who was taking mum home and mum said Jack is, isn’t that right. Turns out dad really wanted to ask her out for months but thought she may say no. Mum wanted the same. By April they were engaged.
Shelia Hall says
Happy Birthday! My favorite love story is my parents’ love story. they were married for 56 1/2 years before my mom passed away. Dad always told that first time he saw mom, he told a buddy that that was the one he was going to marry. Dad passed away just 8 months after Mom and I believe that he just missed her so much, he wanted to just go be with her.
Angela Ruth Strong says
Well done. And congrats!
Angela Ruth Strong says
How cute. Why were you surprised? Had you known each other long? And congrats on a lasting love and beautiful example.
Angela Ruth Strong says
Oh, that’s so beautiful. What a gift!
Angela Ruth Strong says
Trudy, you’re my winner! Please email me your address so I can get you the bookmarks. Thanks for sharing your fun and inspirational story of love.
Angela Ruth Strong says
Thank you all for entering and sharing these wonderful stories. My heart is so full. I drew a random number, and Trudy is my winner. Congrats!!!