by Crystal Joy | Aug 19, 2016 | Uncategorized
Fall 2015 Mark Halsey turned on the shower, holding his hand beneath the faucet until the stream of water felt warm. He wiped his hand on his stomach, then turned around, meeting his wife’s gaze. Rene’s big brown eyes stared at him, and for a moment, he got lost in...
by Crystal Joy | Jul 8, 2016 | Uncategorized
Jess and Zach’s Love Story Jess Upton leaned toward the hotel room mirror, inspecting the brown eyeliner stretching across her eyelids. She closed one eye, then the other. The line above her right eye looked thicker than the one above her left. Expelling a...
by Crystal Joy | Jul 6, 2016 | Uncategorized
Tony and Stephenie’s Love StoryTen-Years-Old (1971) Tony Liston dashed across the living room, his short, small frame weaving between large cardboard boxes and furniture scattered across the dusty hardwood floor. Turning around, he took a couple of steps back,...
by Crystal Joy | Oct 16, 2015 | Uncategorized
Marilyn and Greg’s Love Story August 19th. Marilyn stared at the date on her calendar and wiped a tear off her cheek. Most years, she spent today making her daughter’s birthday special—dinner as a family, Baskin Robbins ice cream cake, gift opening with lots of...
by Crystal Joy | Aug 8, 2015 | Uncategorized
Lyra and Ryan’s Love Story “Ouch.” Lyra Johnson lifted her arm and reached behind her head, yanking out a bobby pin. Her veil loosened, tilting so low it graced the tip of her classic bun. She handed the bobby pin to Kira. “Try putting it a little higher.” ...
by Crystal Joy | Aug 8, 2015 | Uncategorized
Sienna’s Story Janice Boekhoff lifted Benny onto the high table. His whole body shook and his short legs strained to move. With her arms wrapped around his stomach, he couldn’t go far. But that didn’t keep him from trying and his nails scratched at the stainless...
by Crystal Joy | Jun 12, 2015 | Uncategorized
Jen and Daniel’s Love Story Jen Platte zipped her coat and stepped onto the covered front porch. The cold winter wind whirled through the night, stinging her face. Shivering, she pulled a blue wool hat out of her coat pocket and slipped it down over her forehead....
by Crystal Joy | Jun 12, 2015 | Uncategorized
Jenny and Michael’s Love Story Jenny Kriesel ducked behind the ice cream stand as a ball flew toward the first baseline, straight at her. A loud thump struck the counter above her before the ball bounced to the ground. She shook her head, picking up the ball...
by Crystal Joy | Jun 12, 2015 | Uncategorized
Randy and Aubrey’s Love Story “You’ve got to be kidding me.” Randy Winslow dug the ball of his cleat deeper into the muddy sideline of the UNI football field. He eyed the scoreboard. North Dakota—28. Panthers—6. “Come on, Panthers. You can do it,” a voice...
