When we invited husbands to tell us about their wives, they flooded us with responses. They got poetic. They got choked up. They sounded like lovestruck teenagers. Here, in their own words, some of our favorite valentines.

Barbara Wynston–She Pays it Forward Perhaps once in a lifetime we get to meet someone who changes our whole world, as well as the life of everyone she meets. We find ourselves wondering how we ever survived without this person in our life—not for the things she does for us, not for the things she gives us, but for how she teaches and changes us so we become better people for having known her. My wife, Barbara, is one of those people. Barbara was born and raised in New Jersey—cities, suburbs and shore, which provided a range of experiences that helped shape her into the most remarkable person I’ve ever met. Now a vice president at Bank of America, Barbara is extremely successful in her career and caring for our four children— Douglas, 11; Remy, 10; Ashley, 7; and Landen, 6—and our dog, Buttercup, a mixed breed that we adopted from a local shelter. Barbara has a beautiful soul. Her belief in paying it forward is so strong that her commitment to doing good and helping others succeed is unyielding. Yet she doesn’t do something to get something; she’s kind and giving because seeing other people benefit from her support fills her heart. This is shown through her volunteering as a Girl Scout Leader, walking in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, teaching Sunday school, serving on her college sorority’s international governing board and mentoring coworkers. Doing the right thing has made her the kindest, gentlest, most supportive person you’d ever hope to meet. After walking the Avon Walk in New York for two days and 39 miles in the rain and cold, she drew the greatest pleasure from seeing her children at the finish line— not because they cheered for her, but because they would understand how important it is to support others and the joy it brings. My wife is also the strongest person I’ve ever met. Her perseverance when others might throw in the towel inspires me to always try my best. In difficult times, she’s the person who will listen, support and do anything she can to help. I’m inspired to become a better person just being around her.

—Michael Wynston

Peggy Campbell-Rush–An Upbeat Survivor My wife, Peggy, is the hardest-working mom I’ve ever known. She impresses me every day with her talents, love for her family, work ethic and compassion. By day, she’s a nationally honored kindergarten teacher. After school, she coaches her school’s cross-country track team. At night, after family dinner and spending time with our children, Mackensie, 22, Morgan, 20, and Taylor, 17, she writes: She’s the author of six books on education. In the summer, she conducts educational workshops for teachers because she believes in giving back. Peggy is also a breast cancer survivor. She was diagnosed in 1995, had a mastectomy and lost her breast, underwent chemotherapy, lost her hair, lost 25 pounds and almost lost her life. Peggy faced this challenging period with her usual resilience. She chose not to wear a wig but instead wore a baseball cap that read “No Hair Day” on the front. She now runs in the Komen New York City Race for the Cure every year and has placed fourth three times and third last year. Even through cancer, Peggy has maintained her positive attitude. But her resolve would once again be tested when, in September 2006, a car shot out of oncoming traffic and hit her car head-on. Among other injuries, four inches of her sternum and both of her wrists were broken. She had to stay prone for a month and was out of work for three months, but as soon as she could, she started walking to rebuild her strength. A world traveler, Peggy was chosen as a Fulbright Fellow in 2004 to travel to South Africa to study apartheid. But if you ask her, she’ll tell you that her favorite place to be is home with the kids and me. —Jim Rush

Aimee Evans–A (Long) Day in Her Life 2:30 a.m. Sleep interrupted by unexplained thump! It must be our 4-year-old, Awstin, falling out of bed (again). “Did you hear that, babe?” I say. “Yup. I’ll get him,” says my wife, Aimee. 4:00 a.m. Awakened by the sound of Iain, our 3-year-old, as he uses all his strength to scale the side of our bed and crawl in between the two of us. “He’s wet,” Aimee says. “I need to change him.” 6:15 a.m. Alarm sounds—I jump out of bed, shower, make a quick breakfast for the three boys and leave by 7:05 to catch the 7:20 bus to the city. 6:30 a.m. Aimee showers, dresses the three kids, gives Awstin and Iain their asthma meds, makes sure they all brush their teeth, combs their hair, changes Iain’s diaper, scarfs down a bowl of cereal, changes the wet sheets, picks up the neighbor’s kid, piles everyone into the minivan, drives Bryn, 7, to his school, drives Awstin and Iain to day care and makes her way to the office. 9:00 a.m. Aimee arrives at her office; she will work a hectic and quite stressful eight-hour day as online marketing director for a communications technology company. 5:00 p.m. Leaves the office and picks up Awstin and Iain at day care and Bryn at school aftercare; Iain is tired, screaming and carrying on (again). 6:00 p.m. Arrives at home (Iain is still screaming). I come home, and the two of us start making dinner. 6:30 p.m. Dinner is ready. We’re having pasta (again). Bryn is eating. Awstin and Iain are not. In fact, Iain is nowhere to be seen. What could he be destroying? 6:35 p.m. Iain is in time-out. Awstin hasn’t touched his dinner. Aimee and I are dreaming of a glass of wine together in front of the TV. 7:15 p.m. Bathtime! Aimee gets Iain and Awstin, and I take Bryn. I get the better deal. 7:45 p.m. Aimee reads to Iain, and off he goes to bed. Curious George is on the CD player, and Iain has his blanket. 8:00 p.m. Aimee does laundry. 8:15 p.m. Aimee tells Awstin and Bryn to brush their teeth. 8:16 p.m. Tells them again. 8:17 p.m. Tells Awstin again. 8:18 p.m. Threatens Awstin with “No story at bedtime unless you brush your teeth!” 8:30 p.m. Aimee reads to Awstin and Bryn. 9:00 p.m. Bryn and Awstin have made it to bed. Awstin is out like a light. 9:05 p.m. Iain is screaming again…something about wanting more music. Aimee goes to his room and puts on the World Music for Little Ears CD. 9:15 p.m. More laundry. 9:30 p.m. Aimee prepares and packs the next day’s lunch for Iain and Awstin. 9:45 p.m. Aimee sits down with me for 30 minutes of relaxation time. 9:50 p.m. Bryn can’t sleep. He’s most considerate to walk into the living room to tell us. 10:00 p.m. We escort him back to bed. 10:30 p.m. Bedtime! I’m at the end of my rope. Aimee hasn’t complained once. Now that’s amazing!

—Rob Evans Mona Ashley–the Missing Piece of His Life Our society salutes celebrities, businessmen and politicians. And yes, we do take one day a year to honor mothers. However, I make it a daily practice to appreciate the heroics of my wife, Mona. I realize more and more each day how effectively she wears various hats—employee, mom and wife—and how much of a blessing she is to our children and me. Every day, Mona encourages our sons, Malachi, 11, and Brandon, 4, to do their best in all they are involved in. She instills them with character through a strong commitment to academics, athletics and service to others. And she’s compassionate toward other children. When my oldest son’s friends are around, for instance, she’s always happy to offer them advice when they’re troubled, share wisdom and make them laugh. The compassion our boys show others is directly due to the love my wife gives them. Mona is simply the perfect partner, the missing piece of my life’s puzzle. I am able to find emotional security with her, something that has been true during the valleys in life we’ve experienced. I remember December 4, 2004. We were expecting our second child in about 11 days. It was a few weeks before Christmas, and we were looking forward to the baby and the holidays. I went for a medical checkup that day, only to come home to a letter stating that my job was terminated. I was devastated. I didn’t want to upset my wife since she was so close to the birth of our child. When she pulled into the driveway, my throat got lumpy and I could barely speak, but somehow I did. With grace and love, Mona assured me that everything would be fine. And it was. With her strength and support, I found a new job within three weeks, and we had a great Christmas. In 2006, after two years at home with our youngest son, Mona was offered a position by her former employer to work from home as an accountant. She’s shrewd, industrious and resourceful and adds great value to the organization. She often starts her day at 5:00 a.m. so she can get the boys ready for school and spend quality time with me in the mornings. She makes it all look so easy. Mona is bold and beautiful, a fragrant mist of love that envelops our family. She deserves far more than this humble expression of my appreciation. —Sanford Ashley

Gracie Rosenberger–She Inspires Us As a result of a catastrophic car accident at age 17, my wife, Gracie, has endured 70 operations and lives with severe chronic pain. Due to extra strain on her already damaged legs brought on by pregnancy and childbirth, she relinquished her right leg three years after giving birth to our first son, Parker. She lost her other leg four years later, after our second son, Grayson, was born. During her many hospital stays throughout the years, she’s told bedtime stories, planned meals, helped the kids with homework and maintained a career inspired by her struggles. The idea for her work took hold while she was recovering from losing her left leg. Gracie was watching a documentary about Princess Diana and her work with amputees in Southeast Asia. Looking down at her own amputated limbs, she decided to help other amputees. In 2002, she founded Standing With Hope (standingwithhope.com), a nonprofit evangelical prosthetic limb outreach, and launched the program in Ghana, West Africa. Both of our sons have followed their mother’s lead and journeyed to Ghana to help place limbs on amputees. That work inspired Grayson, now 17, to enter a national student contest to invent a new use for bubble wrap. Understanding the need for less expensive cosmetic coverings for prosthetic limbs, he molded the packing material to mimic muscle tissue and leg structure, pulled flesh-colored hosiery over the device and devised an inexpensive prosthetic limb covering for amputees in developing countries. He won the grand prize and was interviewed by dozens of media outlets that were fascinated by the story of a teenager inspired by his mother’s life and work. Equally motivated by his mother, Parker, now 20, has chosen to major in international relations and looks to lead prosthetic teams into North Africa. Gracie is committed to living a fulfilling and meaningful life. She loves whitewater rafting, racing around on snowmobiles and ATVs and even snow skiing. (Using adaptive equipment, she regularly follows us down hair-raising advanced slopes!) She always looks fabulous, and her outer beauty is surpassed only by her inner beauty. Her powerful voice and story have been heard across the nation. We cheered her on when she was invited to sing for the inauguration of Tennessee’s governor. I accompanied her to New York when she sang at the 2004 Republican National Convention (the first woman with a disability to perform at either party’s convention). She often receives standing ovations, but when she sings for wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the applause is accompanied by tears. Maintaining a successful career with an international impact and inspiring audiences across the country while caring and setting a positive example for a family would be daunting tasks for anyone. Doing all these things with severe physical limitations, however, is why my wife truly amazes me. I love her dearly. —Peter W. Rosenberger