Letters to loved ones

For many couples, Valentine’s Day is a perfect time to celebrate their relationships. It’s a celebration of adoration, appreciation and commitment. And while some opt for lavish gifts or carefully planned evenings to show this, simple, honest and heartfelt gestures often are the ones most remembered. In celebration of Valentine’s Day this year, five Baldwin Park couples are doing just that.

Danielle Miller, 

 This picture is just a glimpse of how lucky I am to have met you! After three years of convincing, I finally caved and we got a golden retriever. Haha! Luna has brought me SO much joy, and now, I’m an official dog Dad. You pushed me to switch careers and jump into real estate, thus finding a prosperous career with Baldwin Park Realty! As you can see, you have been nothing but a brilliant light in my life, and I couldn’t be more grateful! Thank you for being you! You are my best friend! Happy Valentine’s Day buttercup. I love you as many as.

 Your husband,

Josh Miller

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To Brittany,

Right now, I am watching you unpack boxes while shooting me playful glances that seem to say, “I can’t believe we’re doing this.” And little do you know that I am not just wasting time on my phone watching you do all the work; I am crafting you a super secret love letter for Valentine’s Day! I want to surprise you because you have been the biggest surprise of my life. I truly thought that this kind of love was no longer possible for me, but here we are moving in together a year after meeting, because falling in love with you has been so effortless, so inevitable. You make everything better with your sense of humor and gentle understanding, and anyone can see that we are perfect complements to one another. I am so excited about our future together, and now, I have a very important question for you. Will you be my Valentine?

With a heart bursting from love,

Stephen

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Simon,

When we met at that party in high school, I never imagined we would end up here. Although we lost touch for years, I would always think about you and what you were up to. Who knew life had a plan for us to meet again? Eleven years later, we crossed paths, and you took me on our first date on my birthday here in downtown Baldwin Park, Feb. 7, 2023. We hopped bar to bar and talked about our lives; where we have been and where we would like to go. Now, one whole year later, we share our home together in the same place we went on our first date. In less than one year, we have made the best memories I will never be able to forget — from late nights watching movies on your couch and eating nothing but junk food to traveling to Colombia and having the pleasure of meeting your amazing family and having the experience of a lifetime. You are hands-down the most special person to ever walk into my life, and I feel so lucky to call you mine. Seeing the man you have become is something I am amazed by every day. You are generous, loving, hard-working and kind, and you know how to make me laugh, even on my hardest days. For you, I will forever be grateful. You are always there to remind me to not take life so seriously, and you are someone I know I can always count on. Thank you for being the man I have always dreamed of. Not only will you always have a special place in my heart, but so will Baldwin. I love you, Simon Garcia.

With love,

Lauren Grimm

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To my Ryry,

When I walked into Tactical Brewing Company late to our first date, I had no idea that was the start of the best year of my life. In this year, we met each other’s friends and families, lost trivia countless times, and drank way too many Tactical beers (jk, there is no limit). Every second, smile, kiss is my favorite, and I love you more with each one. If I could go back to our first date, I would have shown up early so we could start our lives together sooner. Can’t wait to continue to float through life with you, my otter. 

Love,

Your Máire 

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Dearest Rachel,

How on Earth did I get so lucky to have you as my wife? You are beautiful, inside and out, and you continue to amaze me every single day. Our years together have been the best of my life, and I can’t imagine being without you. I still remember our first date and the first time I laid eyes on you. I knew it was love at first sight. Thank you for always being by my side. After the birth of our beautiful baby girl, Ava Christina, I saw a side of you that made me love you even more. Even though our world revolves around our new baby, you are, and always will be, my first love. Before we know it, our baby girl won’t be a baby anymore, and we will long for these days again.  Although we both say that we are soaking up this time now, I just want you to know that the memories with you — being supermom and still the most gorgeous girl I have ever laid eyes on — will make me smile always. You are God’s Valentine to me. May the Lord bless you and our wonderful baby. Wishing you the most magical and wonderful Valentine’s Day.

Your loving husband,

Michael