I was 25 when I told myself that I would be married by 28, and have kids by the age of 30. Let me tell you now, it did not work out the way I wanted it to be, it was not according to HIS plan...yet. I became a very independent woman. Self-sufficient and being adventurous are personal characteristics I never thought I would have. As time goes by, I just kept doing what I enjoy- camping, hiking, going on road trips and travel by myself. It can get lonely after awhile but finding someone who wants to be with me, and love me for me became a blurred vision as I got older. - Joan It was 5 years after I decided to go solo. It was just my son David, my daughter Julie, and myself every other weekend. Those weekends was their time, and a lot of the rest was my own. So I became comfortable after a while. And realizing that I may never find that special someone to share my deepest love with. I had a lot to give and instead I locked it completely away. I built towering walls of imaginative peace and clarity that this was going to be my existence, my life. A life lived alone. After speaking with my sister one day she convinced me to try something new out. I was uneasy and unsure of this method of meeting someone. Not really expecting much to come out of online dating I began to swipe...swipe...and swipe some more. It wasn't going anywhere and unfortunately I felt like giving up. Until one day I stopped on a picture, an image, a woman whose beauty had taken my every breath away. I messaged her with that break the ice kind of way. I was in luck she was a Star Wars fan. "Hey I can watch Rogue One all day and every day as well". She responded a week later, lol. And after some late nights texting, and long hours talking we set up our first date. Asking David my son for advice on how I should be, He said "Dad, just be yourself". So with that excellent advice I headed out to meet her for the very first time.... - Richard

Well....Coronavirus....that is all. LOL. On a serious note, we had a great first date, that led to being exclusive, and here we are now, we keep doing the "funtivities" together like road trip, camping, rock climbing, hiking, and cooking. Funny how we used to do these things when we were both single,and it is actually more fun doing them now as a couple. He was an answered prayer to mine, and I was to his. Who knew we would find love again? Two broken people who just wanted to be loved and give love. We believe God molded us to be better people and better partners. This relationship we have was worth waiting for. Our paths finally crossed, and we would not do it in any other way. "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 The future is bright. Joan | Richard

As we embarked on an early summer morning, the sun not yet risen. Darkness and an early morning fog surrounding us as we set forth on our grand adventure. Oddly some reason however we had been gifted a light so stunning and brilliant. That the darkness and fog gave way to a bright beautiful morning. For the future was bright, and later on this day July 18, 2020 something would happen for the both of us that will completely change the definition of our love. We started the hike like any other, and headed up to the summit. The plan was to climb to the true summit, yes rock climb to the highest peak of all San Luis Obispo county. We eventually made it to the hikers summit. And there standing in between us and Bishop Peak was a massive ridge of boulders and rock that felt strong and stood tall, we hesitated of course. But nonetheless we pushed ourselves to keep moving forward. Crawling, climbing, and scrambling through an intense maze of giant rock, we both managed to reach a resting area just beneath the true summit. Not sure where the route was we decided to rest. I looked for a place to sit and naturally my baby started to walk up a massive large boulder. I said " Babe where are you going"? and my baby said "just up this boulder babe". Right then and there in this perfect moment, my heart inundated with love for her, I knew this was the location that I was going to propose. It never comes out the way we plan so obviously I stumbled over my words. LOL, She had no idea what was happening and I was nervous. I eventually made it down to one knee and opened the box that held my forever and unconditional love. She yelled "What!" followed by her signature laugh we have all come to cherish. I then spoke with true Love, Passion, and Commitment "Will you marry me?" With tears in her eyes and tears in my own she said "YES"