They say, "Love is not something you go out and look for. Love finds you, and when it does, ready or not, it'll be the best thing to ever happen to you." This was indeed true in our love story. Love found us at a dive bar (romantic, right?) when neither of us was really looking for someone special at all. Our paths could have crossed a million times throughout our lives, whether it be through one of our many mutual friends, the school we both attended, or the neighborhoods where we hung out. Instead, our paths crossed that fateful night at Jamins Lounge in 2010. God decided to wait until the timing was just right; until we had experienced enough of what wasn't meant for us and until we were capable of recognizing what was.

When we first met, it was no secret that neither of us was interested in ever getting married again. However, time, commitment, trust, and unyielding love would convince us otherwise. On the tenth anniversary of our first date, all of the kids were scheduled to be home for the first time since our family grew through adoption, and we would finally have a perfectly complete family photo. Near the end of the family photo session, Eric handed me a gift bag. Inside was a t-shirt. "Hmmm...odd gift for our tenth anniversary," I thought. As I unfolded the shirt and read its message, I knew that it wasn't "just a t-shirt". I laughed at the message and cried at the sentiment. Eric got down on one knee with all of our kids to witness and asked if I'd marry him. Of course, I said "yes" because just as the shirt read, "It's about f*#cking time"!

We're both dreamers; full of wild ideas, a love for music and art, and creativity that can carry us away. It's fun to dream together and to know that the only other person crazy enough to see the promise of those dreams is standing right there beside you. We're lucky that way. On June 18, 2022, we will stand beside one another, in kindred spirit, to confirm our commitment to one another and to continue to curate a life that is so perfectly us until death do us part.