Can be we grateful for COVID-19? Probably not right now. So much loss, so much separation, so many challenges. Our wedding was just one small moment among millions of "best-laid plans" that were impacted by 2020. As the pandemic swirled around us, it became clear that April 11th, 2020 was *not* going to look as we had imagined it. But we are rooted in a firm belief that love is the highest vibration, that love, indeed, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. We decided to honor our commitment to each other and to the Great Spirit. We felt it was important to be an unwavering stand, even in a pandemic... *especially* in a pandemic... for love. We convinced the County of Denver to issue marriage licenses remotely, we organized (with the help of dear friends) a ZOOM ceremony, and on April 11th we officially became Luis & Chris Parente-Rios. We should add that 30 minutes before our "virtual" ceremony all the power in our house went out. We hastily gathered the laptop, drove to the tv station where I work, and thusly became the first couple ever married in the Channel 2 studios :-) Looking back, the day was perfect. More perfect than anything we could have spent years planning. It's our hope that perhaps one day, we can look back on all of 2020 in the same way. The lessons we learned, the ways we adapted, the countless times we each rose up, the brilliance of technology to allow us to "be together while apart," the recognition of the many heroes among us, the strength we found to grieve without surrendering. For these things, we *are* truly grateful. And most of all, for family, for friends and for each other. As a new year begins, and new memories and lessons are forged, perhaps one more lesson awaits... the power and joy of REUNION. So set the date, come as you are, and let's celebrate together!

One Spring day, Luis made a last minute decision to attend the wedding of a dear high school friend. The wedding would take him from North Carolina to ... Colorado. He'd never been before. Though he was in Denver for just 24 hours, a further chance encounter brought Luis and Chris together. Chris knew the minute Luis opened the door. When Chris offered to drive Luis back to the airport, he'd fallen in love by the time they reached "departures." Deciding to date long distance (1,433 miles to be exact) required commitment and faith, and trust in the Holy Spirit. But together, they stood for each other, for their love (and for a LOT of FaceTime). In February of 2019, surrounded by people they both love, Chris asked Luis to share this life. Luis cried (a LOT) and said YES. Soon after, they made a pledge to live in the same city. Chris was able to secure a promotion to Morning Anchor in Denver, and Luis found a new job teaching 6th grade in the Mile High. In June of 2019, the long distance ended, and they purchased their first home together. A million things needed to coordinate for them to even meet, and a million more for them to grow together as partners. But they both believe firmly in synchronicity, in the power of listening to that "small, still voice," and in the ability of one flutter of a butterfly's wing to change the course of history.