A Love Story Celebrated

Second chances aren't always in the cards for everyone, but when these two rolled the dice, they both rolled 20. Brian and Emily each came into this blessed fate bearing the marks of lives lived and trials had, holding out their hearts with hope and a prayer. July first of 2024, Emily sat on her back porch watching her pup, Sammy run through the yard. Life was finally settling into a routine and like a sigh, the soul seemed to feel the air of the sweet summer breeze that softly whispered its way through the trees... Life was good, content, but not yet complete. Maybe it was time... time to give love one last shot. At that same hour in Alaska, on a vacation with his children and father, Brian logged onto his eharmony account, wondering routinely if maybe this time he might find the one he'd been searching for. A new face popped onto his suggestions tab. He clicked it. A very new face indeed. Her profile was still being constructed as he read her answers and saw her pictures populating the empty boxes provided. A message came through to Emily. Man, that was fast. 10 minutes on a new app and already a very handsome bachelor had reached out. Within 31 minutes 41 other bachelors would come calling, but only one had a profile with outstanding grammar, creative inflections, and a spirit to catch her eye. She opened his message, not expecting to be enchanted by its perfect brevity. He had commented on her answer to a question on her profile. "My ideal first date," she wrote, "I really enjoy the flexibility that a late afternoon coffee or drink can offer. A first date is really just a fun way to get to know someone better without the pressure of too much too soon and a coffee or drink leaves the door open for a short visit or a longer one." He responded, "I like the practical thought process there. I can't offer to meet for one until next week as I'm traveling with kiddos, but if you have some room on your dance card then, I'd love to put the offer out for a future date." Dance card... That was all it took for her Bridgerton-loving soul to be swept up in the possibilities. With that they had their first date on July 5th, 2024. They met up for a drink, each surprising the other in the most obnoxiously colorful outfits they owned, looking already like a match divinely designed. Seeking in seriousness, the two discussed everything under the sun from admittedly nerdy passions to hilariously vulnerable moments to heavier burdens of histories and dreams. It was strange, as though this is what life should have been all along, but it was only now just beginning for each, in the second chapter. Perhaps the timing was a little later and the rollercoaster of courtship a bit topsyturvy, or one may say, wibbly wobbly timey wimey, but one thing was always for certain, this story was fated to be. Finally, their forever after.