Once upon a time, two wild child’s world’s came together. Rod was 37. He grew up tobacco farming with his family in Lake City, South Carolina before moving to the beach for high school. After school he enlisted in the Navy, where he became an intelligence analyst, doing two tours and seeing countries like Afghanistan and England. Currently he’s an entrepreneur and the owner of Myers Marine Group, where he works as a boat surveyor. When they met, Abby was 27. She had spent the last 7 years building her resume in sales, traveling the southeast and even into Mexico for her company’s sales team. When she wasn’t working or traveling for work, she was at the barn; riding or showing her cutting horse, Abba, with Joey Lewis Performance Horses. Both Rod and Abby were busy people. Rod had two little girls, 4 and 7, and when he wasn’t with them or working, he traveled and competed in fishing tournaments with his best friend Russell for King Mackerel. Despite busy schedules, a friend of both, Blake Evans, kept encouraging the two to meet. They exchanged a message, here and there, but schedules didn’t align for some time. In fact, after dating for some time, they realized there had been several instances of the past ten years, where they very easily could’ve met, and didn’t. One afternoon, Abby’s phone rang. Her niece, Julia was in the car. They sat in the parking lot at Broadway at the Beach, about to explore. She was down visiting from Massachusetts, and Abby prepared to ignore the call. “No! Pick it up!” Jule exclaimed. Giving a worried glance, Abby agreed. In the back of her mind she worried, I hope he doesn’t say anything weird.. He was on speaker and, contrary to hanging up after hearing that a young niece was in the truck, he asked about what they were up to and how they both were. He had a thick southern accent, and a genuine curiosity about him. After hanging up, the girls looked at each other and Jule said “Auntie Abby… you have got to meet this man.” The following week they grabbed dinner. One conversation led to another, and before long the restaurant was closing. Not wanting the night to end, they adventured to a nearby beach, watching the stars and hearing each other’s stories. The next day, a third date to get coffee followed. The two became inseparable. Boat days, concerts, cooking, shop nights, and conversations of goals for the future came and passed. After a few months, the conversation about meeting the girls came up. Abby, who had taught children’s riding lesson throughout high school, asked if a trip to the barn might be the ticket; Rod agreed. Abby was introduced as a friend, and the girl’s spent the next few hours grooming, giggling, and getting pony rides thanks to Sally Smith’s horses, Sugar. Coincidentally, this was also a horse Abby rode on her first visit to the farm, 10 years prior! Getting into their truck to head their separate ways, Rod’s 7 year year old, Sailor, looked at Rod and said “Daddy… you should totally bag her up..” lol! and so the dream began! Abby had always wanted her own farm, and Rod wanted that for his girls as well. In July, Abby bought 8 acres in Loris, South Carolina and together they have been renovating it with the help of Russell, Rodney Sr, Jillian, Kim, John Ingram, Tracy, Chris Costa, Stewart, and many more. Today, we have four stalls built, an arena finished, and a bunkhouse apartment almost complete. Rod is also learning to ride and has a knack for roping. The two share the same faith, humor, goals and grit. Without the help of friends and family alike, they never would have met and grown as much as they have, as quickly as they have. Thank you for reading, we hope you’re able to see the place, the people and the purpose in person. All the love! Abby & Rod