We asked readers to share their Valentine’s stories.

Here are a few of their responses:

Reunited after 20 years

Our story is truly a love story in my eyes. My husband and I dated back in 1996 for 10 months. I was 17 and he was 20. I obviously was still in high school and he was working as a mechanic.

We had locked eyes on each other a few times in years prior to our dating when he worked at Burger King and I would go in for lunch or dinner with friends or family. I remember one day going in specifically with my dad for lunch and he kept staring at me and smiling at me. He finally got the courage to nod at me and say “hey, sup.” My dad smirked at me, bumped me with his elbow and of course razzed me.

A few years later we discovered we had mutual friends. However, I was dating one of them at the time. Yet again, a year later I was single and he had another mutual friend ask me out for him. Of course I said yes. We had 10 great months together until we broke up for a stupid reason.

Twenty years later, he popped into my life again over social media and would talk from time to time which led to more and more because we both were in relationships that weren’t the greatest.

We decided to rekindle our relationship and one day, when pulling up to the Lansford Turkey Hill, he said to me, “I know we both said we wouldn’t ever remarry. Would you ever reconsider the thought?”

After a few months of back and forth, he asked while in a Turkey Hill parking lot ironically in Lansford. “OK then, will you marry me?”

I said, “Was that so hard? Do you feel better now? Yes, yes I will.”

We laughed at each other and told each other we loved each other for our quirkiness.

We announced it to everyone over Easter. We have been married since September 2019 and it feels as if we are as in love as we were the first day. We truly feel we were meant to be together and are soulmates. We love each other so much!

Sharona and Bill Muthard

Coaldale

High school love

Our love story started in high school back in 1966. We were too young kids back then not knowing too much. Everyone said it wouldn’t last because we were so young to be talking about getting married. But we didn’t listen, we followed our hearts and got married right after high school.

We had our first born in 1970. I was 20 and Jamie was 19, two scared kids but we kept working hard, myself working nights and Jamie working days.

We bought our first home in Jim Thorpe for $850 so you can imagine the work that had to be done in that.

We had a daughter two years later and we worked hard like every young couple does. We went through many trying times, financial worries like everybody does but this year we will be married 53 years.

But you never know what life‘s gonna throw at you.

Five years ago, my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer, had to get a double mastectomy. You never know how your life changes until you get that phone call.

It has just made our love for each other even stronger.

To all the young kids out there, just work hard, Never run away during an argument. Always stay. As soon as you leave even for a day it causes big trouble.

Everybody follow your heart. Love is the most special feeling in the world.

Bill and Jamie Solomon

Jim Thorpe

Dog’s unconditional love

Being happily single doesn’t mean I don’t have the most precious Valentine! My best friend, my side kick, my puggle, Promise, is my Valentine. Her endearing qualities are many. She is loyal, trusting, snuggly and loves unconditionally, as all dogs do. But the reason she is most precious to me is because she encourages me every day.

During my two-year battle with breast cancer she never left my side, and was my motivation to keep going even on the worst days. She didn’t care that I lost my hair and looked ghastly, and she wasn’t grossed out by my getting sick and all of the other unpleasantries.

She loved me every minute of every day, and continues to do so. Coming home from work every morning to her is the absolute best. I love spending as much time as possible now, going on outings, hikes and trips together. No one could ask for a better Valentine!

Kathleen M. Quinn-Farber

Tamaqua

Gift of a Valentine

What an incredible gift it is, to have a Valentine all-year round. Mine happens to have a charming smile, handle-bar mustache and an unmatched and clever wit of anyone I’ve known. His name is Rob Walck and he has made mine and my family’s lives better since we’ve met.

After enduring our share of trials and tribulations, we agreed to meet at the suggestion of his mom. We’ve enjoyed many serendipitous moments that have left us speechless and unable to explain. For example, we both attended college at the same university at the same time, lived in neighboring residence halls and knew each other’s social groups, yet my “home” was 30 minutes away from his. We’ve cherished similarities and celebrated differences throughout our relationship.

He has brought so much kindness, compassion, strength and love to our lives, that everything now seems to just make sense. Rob is an incredible father and continues to build our family up stronger and better than it ever has been.

To show my love and appreciation for him, I brought him to the Lehighton Christmas Tree Lighting this past December. We walked up to a brightly lit tree, adorned with handmade ornaments and momentous that represented our love for each other and our family.

I then got down on one knee and asked him to marry me, because I felt he was worthy of proposal. He said yes, though we knew we were meant to be all along. I’m grateful for Rob, as my everyday Valentine ... but the Valentine for our whole family. He is Simply The Best!!

Kortney Kortow

Lehighton

Love at first tail wag

I fell in love with this cutie the moment I saw his adoption pic. Those beautiful brown eyes stole my heart and soul. My heart melted the closer we bonded. He makes everyday special by being my best friend and doing everything together...playing ball, 4 mile walks, and snuggling to sleep every night! He’s my forever valentine.

Debbie Cole

Allentown 💝