Though we have been married for only a short time, my husband and I already realize how important it is for couples to reinforce their love for each other by establishing and maintaining their own personal traditions. We continually foster our love with "Niederwald."

In 1996, shortly after we had begun dating each other exclusively, Matt accompanied me on a day trip to San Antonio. I had to attend a business conference and he was concerned about me making the "long" drive from Fort Worth alone. (I could easily have tolerated what to me was a mere jaunt, but I was happy for the company!) While I spent all day attending workshops, he touristed around San Antonio. He picked me up around 5:00pm, and we enjoyed dinner on the River Walk, before we starting home.

While driving back north on I-35, he suddenly looked over at me seated in the passenger's seat and said "Shelley, I am SO in love with you." Touched by his spontaneity, I snuggled over to him in the car and closed my eyes -- dreaming of the future we might have together. As his family has a strong German heritage, I was not surprised when seconds later, in a hushed voice, he softly uttered "Niederwald..."

Again, moved by his candid sincerity and his willingness to express himself so freely, I moved even closer to him and laid my head on his shoulder. Eyes glistening, I fluttered my lashes and gazed up at his face. Smiling shyly, I sweetly whispered, "Niederwald. Hmm…what does that mean?"

"Huh? What?" He stuttered blankly. "Uh…ahem… Oh. Oh! I was just reading that road sign," he explained, pointing at the large green highway marker disappearing as we passed. Quickly realizing what I had misunderstood, he couldn’t restrain his laughter. Chagrined, I, too, could do nothing but laugh aloud that I had been a little too carried away in the romantic moment.

Later, we learned that the literal translation of the German "Niederwald" is "low forest." Yet, the word has taken on a much more significant definition to us. It has become our unique expression of love. It was engraved inside Matt’s wedding band months later when we were married, November 8, 1996. He had it engraved on gold bands that he gave me for Christmas in 1998. A mysterious "Mr. Niederwald" has left cryptic messages for me at work and has sent me flowers on such occasions as the anniversary of the date Matt proposed and the anniversary of our first date.

It was only after our visit there that I found the City of Niederwald website with an email address to contact their mayor, Rickie Adkins. Having captured the telephone number for City Hall on one of the photographs from our recent road trip, I was able to follow up with a call to the Niederwald City Council to make a special request. I shared our story with them and was thrilled when they agreed to surprise my husband, Matt, with the key to the city. The key to the City of Niederwald (designed by local artist and councilwoman, Glenda Buehring) was officially presented to him on Valentine’s Day, 1999 - long after he’d won the key to my heart!

The occasion took on dramatic proportions when I submitted the story to an online contest at Hallmark.com and won the grand prize! Along with the traditional gifts of candy and flowers, Hallmark also awarded my husband and I with a box filled with exquisite gifts from their online store. In addition, Hallmark’s artists and writers custom designed a Valentine’s Day card for Matthew and I, commemorating our relationship with the small town of Niederwald. This incredible work of art is complete with ribbons, bows, and needlework and will become one of our most cherished keepsakes. It includes an original poem created by one of Hallmark’s most renowned writers, Barbara Loots, adapted from our love story about "Niederwald." We will treasure it always and know it will be an heirloom for our future children and their children. The media attention that the contest garnered gave us pictures and articles to record the event of a lifetime.