Happy Valentines day to all!
Earlier this week we selected our grand prize winner of our We Love love contest on Swift Current Online but we had so many fantastic entries that we thought we would showcase a few of them on this day of love celebrations.
Let's start with Lyndsaye and Tylers love story.
Lynsaye and Tyler have been together since 2013 and she tells us how they met:
"We were set up by Tyler's cousin who was dating my roommate. To say our first date was a total disaster is being kind. By all accounts we should never have made it to the second date. If you believe in signs, this is one for the books. After both of us had experienced divorce and failed relationships, neither of us were looking for anything serious. Or so we thought. Tyler had my number for a couple weeks before he texted me. The day the text came in I was driving in a storm and just as lightning struck a powepole right beside the highway. Thunderstruck. We had to book our date months in advance around his daughter's activity schedule. We were 2.5 hours apart (Swift Current to Saskatoon). We texted back and forth and I had never wanted to date someone with kids because I was scared of being a step mom. So we were off to a great start (sarcasm). On the day of the date I really did not want to go as I just wasn't feeling great, but I did for my roommate. She set it up as a double date to make it let awkward. We all arrived at a sushi place (which no longer exists) and I spotted the vehicle he drove. A Ford Escape. I hated Ford Escapes after a bad experience with one. He was also wearing a neon green shirt which was blinding. He knew green was my favorite color so he chose the only green shirt he had. During the meal my roommate and I spent more time talking to each other as the boys were talking about their relatives. Once the meal was done we tried to think of what to do next. The suggestion of bowling came up so that was next. However, because of my bad experience with Ford Escapes, I joked that I didn't want to ride in Tyler's car. He thought that meant I didn't want to ride with him (but he didn't tell me this until later). So we hopped in his cousin's truck and went bowling. Of course it was a glow bowling night, so Tyler's shirt really stood out, making him impossible to miss. So were his bowling skills. Nobody mentioned that he had been in a bowling league. After a car accident that left me with a broken wrist, my bowling skills were non-existent. I flubbed through it until finally my roommate told Tyler to show me how to do it. "No no, that's OK!" I'd said from embarrassment. He did come over and show me how to throw the ball, but when his hand touched mine I actually felt a shock, like electricity run through me. I pulled back instantly and he backed up in defeat (not realizing what had happened). I didn't want to fall for someone, but when he touched me, something happened. To make it even more bizarre, I threw the ball and got a strike. It sounds made up, every time I tell it, but I have witnesses. After that I casually walked back to the our table, feeling a sudden realization. As I looked over at the TVs, Iggy Azalea was singing "Imma change your life." It was so fitting. Tyler felt defeated though and was busy talking to his cousin. When he was bashing the Saskatoon Blades for losing to his Broncos, I teased "keep that up and I won't go to a hockey game with you afterall." He realized with that statement that there was still a chance with me. When we look back on it we can laugh now about how it played out. I didn't want a boyfriend at the time, but I ended up finding a incredible man. We long distance dated for a year before I moved to Swift Current. I love his daughter, and all of his family. We've now been together for 11+ years and even had our wedding on center ice at the iplex. I guess you could say he converted me into a Broncos fan."
Their love for hockey is just one of the things Lyndsaye loves about Tyler:
"Tyler is the most gentle and kind man I've ever known. He supports me in everything I do and encourages me through the hard times. He is able to take my sadness away and comfort me in my darkest times. MHe loves my friends, and my family, and he embraces every little quirk of mine. We have traveled to many NHL and WHL arenas together with our shared love of hockey, and our love of travel has taken us to Africa and other adventures. He's given me the fairytale relationship I didn't think existed and together we've healed from the past relationships that had broken us. As much as the signs were against us, we proved that we were meant to be, and we are each other's reasons why no relationship worked before. We changed each other's lives for the better. Iggy was right."
Our next story is one of a loving friendship between Sheila and Ben.
While we love to celebrate romantic love on Valentines Day a loving friendship is just as important as Sheila shared with us. She tells us how her and Ben met:
"Randomly gave him a ride - picked him up at the corner of center and forever"
After being good friends for five years Sheila truely appreciates Ben:
"Traditionally romantic love dominates Valentine’s Day, but I believe all real love needs celebrating. I never knew the depths of real love until a friendship changed that. I may have appeared more successful when we met, but despite our opposite practices of spirituality, different eras of growth, socio-economic status and family composition, Ben has taught me I am enough. I respect and appreciate him. he is smart, funny, athletic, deeply talented in many areas and good looking. His honesty, ability to know and challenge me has blessed.me. He has helped me become who I always wished I was - confident. Ben’s generosity of person, time and making sure I and my small family don’t slip between the cracks during hardship are refreshing, nourishing, life-giving… I have been privileged to know him and help him through some challenges as well and believe the sky will always be the limit for him and his life. He is the most loyal and faithful person I have ever known. The only thing I ever ask for Christmas and my birthday are handmade cards and they mean everything to me. The words he said that made the biggest difference in my life were, “I’m proud of you!, and “I loved you the moment I met you.”
Our final tale of love is the one between Eden and Rody.
Eden and Rody are highschool sweethearts as Eden told us :
"We met in high-school English class, went on a date shortly after and have been together ever since. We celebrate 10 years this May and share a beautiful 1 year old boy and are expecting a second this June."
According to Eden laughter really is the best medicine when it come to what she loves about Rody:
"Everything. He is my best friend and he can always make me laugh."
A huge thank you to everyone that submitted their love story to our We Love love contest and Happy Valentines Day!!!