Jason and I met at a business conference in Irvine, CA. Jason showed his punny side with a pick up line and I was smitten. We exchanged phone numbers, so the clever texting could begin. Misunderstandings through text led to long late night phone calls. I was currently Full-time everything with school, work, and volunteer projects, so dating seemed impossible. However, when it's the love of your life, time is made available. From dinner dates to parking lot conversations that we never wanted to end, began the adventure of a lifetime for Jason and I. Words we used to describe what we were feeling were weird, ridiculous, and amazing. We shared in hopes and aspirations of a life together. To have a relationship with God, ourselves and each other. Our story is simple, sentimental and sweet. We share our love with friends and family who have helped shaped us into the people we are today. We would have not have been able to have this moment in time without you.
Funny thing, Katie and my path crossed a couple few times before we actually started talking to each other. And once we started talking to one another we haven't stopped since. Irvine, CA, March 2019 we noticed each other on some over sized lawn chairs in front of the hotel. Then during the conference I kept looking for any reason to be near her. In the hallways between panel sessions, during the panels, or helping this woman I didn't really know yet load her car. I was up all night thinking of a pick up line..I tried it, I said I was going to be in her neck of the woods soon, would she like to have coffee..she said when will you be here? I replied, when are you available?
One year later after we met, the same event was happening in Tucson, AZ at the Westin La Paloma. I had been planning and moving pieces around the board for months because it was also Katie's birthday that weekend and I wanted to give her a birthday she would never forget. Time stood still once the new year hit and it seemed like it took forever, but the day finally came, and I was able to muster enough courage to the get the Q & A microphone and propose to Katie in front of a few hundred of our closest friends. She said YES! This was right before anyone would know the country would shut down and we would have to forage for toilet paper, paper towels, and cleaning products.