Valentine's Dinner 2009
On the starlit evening after Valentine’s Day, more than 30 couples arrived at the church for an evening out with their sweethearts. The first big event held in the remodeled space, the guys and gals who spent the afternoon setting up had their hands full, moving chairs, finding tables, and arranging centerpieces. But the end result was a lovely candlelit room, cozy and warm, with the delicious smells of dinner filling the air.
After finding their table placement on a chart near the front door, each couple sat down to a white linen-covered table decorated with clear beads, flickering candles, shiny chocolate kisses, and a vase of flowers. As a conversation kick-start, each table passed around heart-shaped valentines with a question on the back . . . what’s your favorite color, food, television show?
Soon after, the local ladies who catered the evening event began delivering plates filled to the edges with mashed potatoes, a generous slice of roast beef, green beans, and a dinner roll. Next came enormous slices of mouth-watering French-silk chocolate pie, absolutely wonderful!
As plates were cleared, but conversations continued, the evening’s MC invited everyone forward to enjoy a round of the Newlywed Game. First the pre-selected (and not all newlywed) couples found their seats at the front of the church. The gentlemen were asked to leave while their wives answered questions ranging from his home-improvement project skills to his age at the time of his first kiss. Next the 
ladies left and their husbands were asked to remember their mother-in-laws’ birthday month and to describe their early morning wives "florally" as either a Sunflower, a Bird of Paradise, or a Snapdragon.
There were plenty of good-natured laughs and fun answers to the wide variety of questions. When these were answered and the winners declared, everyone began to gather their coats and say their good-byes. It was a lovely evening of fellowship with other sweethearts.