Our children love stories, and stories can help us preserve memories. Back in 1996, I started a family history Valentine’s Day project by sending out a questionnaire to my parents and siblings about their courtships and marriages. I thought those stories were important for my children to know. Because I didn’t complete it in time for February 14th that year, I put it away, thinking to finish it in 1997. Then I misplaced it. Off and on, my husband would encourage me to look for those questionnaires because he had done an excellent job recounting our courtship! But, they were lost.
In January 2022, while cleaning out a box of old genealogy records, I discovered the typed and hand-written questionnaires! My daughter, Elizabeth, helped me transcribe the documents. Then I compiled them, added photos and shared them with my siblings electronically on Valentine’s Day 2022 in a document entitled, “Love and Marriage—the Frosts.”
Because I started the project in 1996, I had the courtship memories of my parents and my mother-in-law who are now deceased. It was so wonderful to reread all the stories and remember special and humorous accounts from my parents and siblings. Here are a few of them:
Meeting: Mom and Dad met in a French class in 1940, but it was more than a year before their first date. Dad dated several of Mom’s girlfriends and “cried on Elinor’s shoulder about them” before he asked Mom out. It was a long courtship—8 years, including 3 years while Dad served in WWII.
Funny first impressions: I first met Brent when we were in the 10th grade and he was in math with me. I had no interactions with him in class, but I do remember thinking he was pretty stuck-up. That year, I became acquainted with his sister in a school service club, and I remember wondering how such a nice girl could have such a stuck-up brother.
Dating: One night, we went up to my office at Ricks College and watched “The African Queen” on a VCR—which was rare in those days. We all sat on blankets and ate popcorn and enjoyed the movie.
Engagement: It happened on Valentines Day. I took Jill on a scavenger hunt. I can’t remember all the places she went, but I followed her in my car. The last clue was a large Hershey Kiss that I had hollowed out and placed a diamond ring in. With a little prodding, Jill opened up the Hershey kiss and saw the ring. We were in the Storehouse Market parking lot in separate cars when she discovered it–we got out of our cars and embraced.
The wedding: We were married in the St. George Temple. There were ten couples all in the same room. Each couple took a turn at the altar—it was a mass wedding. After, we honeymooned at the Grand Canyon.
The reception: Tiina took her father’s suggestion and surprised everyone at our backyard reception by making an unexpected entrance in her wedding dress on the back of her horse, Rex.
Feelings about your spouse: I love my husband. I love our conversations, his intelligence, his kindness, his knowledge of the gospel, and his testimony which has been such a strength to me. I love that he will do housework and let me mow the lawn. He has been such a good example of service and, as he will tell you, he has promised to make me laugh every day! He is the best and I am so grateful that I will be with him for eternity.
There are so many wonderful memories and stories that we are grateful we have in the pages of that Valentine’s project!
You can save similar stories by compiling information from the following questions about yourself, your siblings, or your parents. Then you can save your Story in FamilySearch; you can also record an audio version of your story or include photos of your wedding or courtship.
1) How and when did you and your spouse meet?
2) When was your first date? What did you do?
3) Describe your courtship—How long did you date? What kinds of things did you do together? What meaningful or humorous experiences did you have?
4) When did you get engaged? How did it happen? What were the circumstances?
5) What was your wedding day like? Who was there? What happened?
5) Express your feelings about your spouse.
This Valentine’s Day, in the spirit of “planting in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers” and helping “the hearts of the children turn to their fathers,” preserve some stories from your family’s past, and remember!
– Marianne Bates, Consultant, Granite FamilySearch Center