Valentine's Day stands for love and love comes in many forms, love for a mate, love for a friend, love for a child. Valentine's Day for me became a little more special on February 14, 1972 when a little bundle from Heaven entered into my life -- that day my middle daughter Linda presented me with my first grandson, Larry. I didn't get to see him until he was eight months old because he was born in Berlin, Germany. There were two Larrys then, Big Larry and Little Larry. Little Larry was a sweet, blond bundle of energy. When he was 17 months old our whole family traveled through Europe in a rented van. Little Larry made the trip more special.

When Big Larry's time in the Army ended Linda and her family came to Colorado to live. We looked forward to them being home and for awhile things were happy but it didn't last.

Linda, Big and Little Larry moved to Iowa but before long Little Larry and his Mother came home to live with us. It was one of those heartbreaks we face in this life, for Big Larry, my wonderful son-in-law had changed. I dearly loved him, he was a kind and gentle man but drugs had entered the picture.

One day Linda agreed to let Little Larry go to visit his Dad in Iowa. I reluctantly put the seven-year-old boy on an airplane. Later I made train reservations to go to Iowa to visit my parents and my sister and brother-in-law. I had three reservations, one for each grandson and one for myself. I wanted my two grandsons to have the thrill of riding a train. My Dad and Mother would take me to Newton to get Little Larry from his father.

Right before it was time to come home I got a distressed call from Linda. Big Larry had filed for divorce and claiming that she was an unfit mother, he was asking for custody of little Larry. It was a sad trip back to Colorado for just the two of us. The other train ticket was never used.

When I got home Linda was preparing her defense to the charges against her. She packed her car with the few possessions she owned and a day or two later we waved good-bye to her as she took off for Newton, Iowa. It was a heavy undertaking for a young mother. She had complete faith that God would take care of her but oh, how I worried.

I have never admired my middle daughter more than I did that early morning as I saw her leave in a little beat up car piled with just a few meager possessions to go to a strange town. Her faith in God was far greater than mine. Not only was the town of Newton unknown to her, she had very little money. Her Dad and I couldn't help her. I was newly back with the Lord and had just begun to realize what an expensive habit drinking can be. I couldn't take time off from work and I was scared to death for her. I wondered where Linda got the courage to take that trip into the unknown with only God beside her. We told her to call as soon as she could and I worried and stewed.

It seemed like it took forever for that call to come but when it did I breathed a sigh of relief. Linda had found a room at the YMCA in Newton, Iowa and was working at an office job.

Linda started going to church. She is an outgoing and congenial person and soon made friends. Her room at the YMCA was cheap but there were some strange women living there. One woman talked to herself all the time and seemed to live in a dream world. A family in the church offered to let her live in their spare room and she gladly accepted and moved from the YMCA.

Meantime the divorce proceedings were nearing completion and Linda was informed that in order to gain custody of little Larry she had to establish a home for him. She and a friend started looking for a house but when they found one there was a three-month rent deposit on it. Linda had very little money, she told her story to the landlord and he let her move in with just a month's rent deposit. She found second hand furniture at garage sales. Some of the furniture was in such bad shape it wasn't fit to sit on, but Linda covered it with sheets. Her prize possession was a corner closet that she put into Little Larry's room.

My sister lives on a farm in Iowa and she is very busy with chores and other duties, but bless her heart she came to Newton to help Linda. They went shopping and my sister bought the little things that make a place a home, things such as chair pads and sheets so Linda could make curtains. Together they moved furniture into the house and took snapshots of the new home. Those pictures were developed just in time to take them to court.

It was a dreadful trial, it lasted two days and Big Larry appeared with the woman he was now living with. He had sold all of their possessions, including their pet dog, Ladybug, a little Yorkshire Terrier. Both Big Larry and his girlfriend told lies and accused Linda of having a filthy house and neglecting little Larry. My sister stayed with Linda a week and gave her moral support throughout the trial.

The Judge awarded custody to Linda but she had to stay in Iowa. It was a difficult time for her. She managed to visit my sister and her family a few times, so that was some comfort but it was a long and cold winter for her.

Big Larry married and divorced the woman he was living with but he never had any more children and didn't know his son. He cheated himself.

Linda married Mike, the son of a preacher and our little Larry became big Larry. Mike has been a wonderful father to Larry, he's a teacher, loves kids and spends a lot of time with them. Mike is a talented musician and loves sports, as do all three of Linda's sons. Larry loves Mike as much as he would a father.

When young Larry was in his rebellious teens Linda let him go to see his Dad but Larry came back disappointed. His Dad had taken so many drugs he was now schitzophrenic and just like the woman at the YMCA Big Larry talked to himself and lived in a dream world.

My Valentine Grandson, Larry is now in Bible College in Texas. He has a wife and son and will soon be a preacher. I'm proud of him, almost as proud as I am of my daughter Linda who had the love, faith and courage to fight a tough battle in court for a little boy.