Valentine’s Day Letters

Don, You are the love of my life. My best friend. My everything. Happy Valentine’s Day, Sweetnessnessness. Love, Laura.

Laura Johnson

Costa Mesa

I am writing to profess my love to my entire family. I love my mom for teaching me to be the woman I am. I love my dad for teaching me the value of family. I love my husband for standing by my side and supporting me through my daily struggles in fighting for my daughters rights. I love my stepchildren for giving me the opportunity to love them. I love my two sons for bringing me joy that reminds me there is always a reason to be silly.

And mostly, I love my daughter Leilani. She has shown me that life is a glorious thing. Each day I wake up and walk down my stairs to the joy of her beautiful face. I look forward to the simplicity of her innocent words.

There are many moments in the day that try my emotions. There are many obstacles that we face as a family. Most of them bring me to tears. Most of them are reminders of how unfair life can be. Just a few days ago, I was told “June, I know you’re trying to prove a point.” This was so degrading to me. No, sir, all of my actions come from my mom teaching me to fight, my dad teaching me to give, my husband teaching me to be reasonable, my sons teaching me to smile, and my daughter teaching me to love unconditionally. I am just a mom with a tremendous amount of love to give and I will never stop. I am honored and humbled to have the love of my family.

June Hendriks

Costa Mesa

At the time I considered being drafted into the U.S. Army I was in my senior year of college, just 6 credits from completing my bachelor’s ... a real bummer! Little did I know that it was because of this event that I would ultimately meet and marry the girl of my dreams!

Returning to the campus three years later was a challenge. I was older, everyone I had known was gone, and all the “cute girls” seemed to be taken.

In my first class I noticed this beautiful girl sitting in the front row. In my second class, there she was again! I tried to get a seat close to her but they were all taken. I asked the person sitting next to me: “Who is that girl, in the cashmere sweater, plaid skirt and saddle shoes?” My classmate replied: “Oh that’s Jody Norwood, but you need to know that she is engaged to a dental student.”

Wouldn’t you know! I thought, here I’ve been out serving my country and all the cute girls are gone!