Bite Love Stories presents the winning 10 stories.

We asked: “What makes love stay alive and grow in relationship?”

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“Every moment keeps love alive. Love always needs to be tended whether it is in an obvious manner or from within. You have to be willing to admit your faults and bare your soul. For love to grow each person must be honest, even when you’re scared to be, live with integrity, and have a common interest. For us, our love has blossomed and is tended over long walks and great food!” ~ Chrysta Horwedel, Los Angeles

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“My pen-pal contacted me 38 years later. We are married to others. Our pure and divine bond was sealed at a two-weekend children’s workshop. Of his life he says, “I remembered you during the difficult times. And then I’d feel good.” Our love is like a vehicle; this greater power works through us. We tune in to God together. That we are 8000 miles apart is irrelevant. We feel each other’s presence. Beginning my relationship with my husband, I listed my pen-pal as “one of the majors,” even though he was an eleven-year-old boy last time I saw him.”  Susan Rajkumar, India www.susanofindia.com

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“Say yes.” ~ Betsy Brill, Bay Area

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“Have faith in the future.” ~ Lupe Fernandez, Bay Area

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“I was in a relationship for 15 years. And though the romantic part is over, the core of love that we built over those years is eternal. It’s a friendship that grows deeper and richer over the years. IT’s based on a shared art form, a mutual experience of working in that medium together, and a feeling of having grown up together. There is a sense of having been orphans together, struggled to survive as artists, of having helped one another to succeed. And there is a healthy level of competition that caused each of us to become better. There is a sense of having learned so much from the one I love (d), to have valued his greatness. The shared art form was a gateway to the divine in each of us, a portal to something totally infinite, a kind of esteem for one another that simply does not go away and brings great joy every single day. This I believe is what it is to have experienced love.”

~ Ana K. Rose, New York City http://www.triadicheartyoga.webstarts.com

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“I never thought I’d be married, but 9 years later here I am. He’s not perfect, just perfect for me. Pushes, pulls, cares, gives and takes, and mostly he loves. I could go on for another fifty words, but would rather have another fifty years.”

~ Kymberlie Ingalls, Bay Area www.writerofthestorm.com

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“Passion for each other; creativity in your own lives and in keeping the passion alive. Nurturing, understanding, compassion, communication, asking for help. Giving space to each other. Honoring and acting on your partner’s definition of intimacy. Being present emotionally, mentally, physically. Compromise. And when blame and attacking surfaces, getting help as a couple (via a third party).”
Shelley Carlisle, Bay Area  www.facebook.com/shelleycarlislemusic

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“Change. Life doesn’t stand still and nor should we. My husband sails on a ship far away from me for 8 months a year. Sometimes I feel like a mermaid out of water waiting on a seaside rock for his return. Then he comes home and my world changes instantly. I go from being an independent woman selling seashells on the seashore to being a happily married one swimming in a sea of love. It takes weeks of dancing around each other to get that familiarity back and sometimes we fight, that’s normal. But every time he comes home again the experience is new and different and I think it’s what keeps our love alive. “

~ Leah Armstrong, Italy

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Create and cherish your own private world. We are self-employed; our days can be hectic and stressful but every night before bed we sit down for an hour or so with our two house rabbits at our feet. The rabbits snuggle and groom each other, scrounge raisins and watch us. We laugh at the TV, eat junk food, make silly jokes and watch them. Nobody else ever sees this world – the rabbits disappear whenever we have visitors – and its privacy and comfortable companionship is the most important part of our day.

~ Hannah Davis, www.bunnyhugga.com

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“I’ve been married for 19 years. I would say the one thing that keeps our relationship growing is, Vicky and I are always trying to make our relationship big enough for two people.”
~ Dr. Tom Jordan, New York City

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Special Mention: Contributions

Quote from a contributer about how her dog snuffles (a puppy mill survivor) helps keep love alive in her family.

“Every morning now I wake up and lick any bad dreams off the face of my loving lady-mistress…”

~ Laurel Anderson, Utah. The Dog’s Blog, www.savagepointbedbreakfast.com

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From BITE SIZE LOVE STORIES EVENT. Celebrating The Month of Love and Marriage. Moderated by Niya C. Sisk. https://www.facebook.com/events/444115185661996/