Our long, twisted and a little bit crazy story began in the summer of '99. Aaron's, being his free spirited and adventurous self, moved to Spooner WI on a whim from his hometown of Alpena Michigan for a girl. He would later marry and have 2 amazing children with that very girl. Sadly, their relationship came to an end 10 years later. That girl my friends... was not Amy. It was however, for her best friend. Upon first glance, Amy was hesitant about Aaron. So hesitant in fact, that Amy, being her usual blunt self, told her friend "maybe you should take him back to Michigan." You see, Aaron was nothing like Amy had met before. Amy, a "straight and narrow, the world is in black and white" kind of girl, didn't know what to make of Aaron. Aaron was his own person, a colorful, no lines needed kind of guy. A free spirit, the world holds no bounds, so let's be crazy guy. But alas, as everyone who knows Amy already knows, Amy can be a little judgmental at first. It is quite commonly said, "she likes you, she just doesn't know it yet." And the same was true for Aaron! But in fact, over time Amy came to know Aaron. She saw his kindness, his generosity, his strength, and his love. Shortly after his arrival, he came to stay for a short time while he was getting on his feet in a new state, in a new town, to live with Amy and her then husband. Aaron would often help out with Amy's then two small children and they referred to him as "Uncle Hoov". He cared for them as his own, so much so, that he became the godfather to what would eventually be three children. Over the years, Amy and Aaron's friendship continued to grow. They stood up in each other's weddings. Amy was present at the hospital for both of Aaron's children's births. Even after Amy and her best friend parted ways, Aaron and Amy maintained their friendship, and continued to get together for birthday parties, holidays, and life events. Their children grew up together. They were there for each other's big moments and worst moments. And then, in what felt like a blink of an eye, 20 years later, in the winter of 2019, Aaron and Amy, both out of long terms relationships/marriage, got together one morning for breakfast at Aaron's home, just as two friends. That day, something started to change. Over the course of the next month, and one albeit one drunk night with some convincing from Amy's girlfriends, decided to risk their friendship for what could possibly be more, and took a chance. What happened shocked them both. They never saw it coming, and if you told either of them what would happen 20 years ago, they would have fallen to the floor laughing. To say they found love would be an understatement, they found so much more. In Aaron, Amy found true love that came with no strings attached, comfort, strength, kindness, respect and a 100% true partner. Aaron showed Amy that it was ok to draw outside the lines, that life is too short to not go out and see the world and all the joy it holds. And in Amy, Aaron found a stable, straight forward commitment based off love, honesty, stability and loyalty, something he had been lacking in all other relationships. Sometimes love just finds you. It finds you in the rarest of moments, with someone you least expected, with someone that has been starting at you in the face in the last 20 years. But in one moment, when the timing is right, a spark ignites, and your world is forever changed. All of a sudden, you see things with a different light and find everything you have hoped for, longed for, wished for and loved!