One of my best friends, Claire Horton mentioned that there was a guy that "would be perfect for me" during my senior year. As she raved about him, I requested him on Facebook for fun. Nothing ever came of it, but I had formed a digital connection that would later lead us to one another. Fast forward to September 4, 2015. I was playing in Dallas for a college soccer game. Although this day was just another game, I found out later that a very meaningful event took place, unbeknownst to me. Tyler was attending an Alabama vs. Wisconsin football game with his dad while also scouting out a new business opportunity in Dallas for the weekend. They had a bit of time to kill so his dad suggested stopping by to support the Principia women's soccer game at UTD. When they arrived, they realized that the (my) game was delayed. So, they began chatting with some other alumni hanging around the field. One of the fans was my dad. Somehow he and Tyler ended up next to each other, shook hands, introduced themselves and had a short conversation. Tyler of course thought nothing of it. Two months later, my dad passed away. I remember thinking to myself multiple times, "how could I ever begin another relationship? I need to focus on my family. It's so weird that whomever I marry, my father will never formally meet him." A few months later I get a message from Tyler telling me that he had a story he wants to tell me. I'm all ears. He tells me about the soccer game back in the fall and meeting my father. "He made an impression on me in the short convo we had" Tyler said. Once he saw my pictures on Facebook with my dad after his passing he connected that I was Tom Hurley's daughter also known as the girl that had requested him. Tyler came out to STL a few weeks later and we went on date #1, 2, 3...and that's when I knew this guy had to be it. Looking back, it is evident that God's plan was in full effect (per usual) long before we knew about it.

Most life changing moments occur when you are least expecting them. This most accurately describes the relationship of Georgia Mae and me. During a business trip to Dallas, TX my father and I decided to go support the Principia College Women’s Soccer team, who just happened to be playing in the area. Out of the half a dozen or so people I met that day, I met a man that I could only describe as special. Although our interaction was nothing more than a simple, firm handshake and brief pleasantries, I walked away with a feeling of purpose. Fast forward a few months to the next moment. GM and I had been connected on social media through mutual friends, but up to this point had never had a reason to interact. Through this connection I was saddened to find out that GM's father Tom had suddenly passed away. Amongst this tragic, life changing moment in time, I was amazed by the sense of strength, grace and love exhibited by GM through her posts. I soon came to respect this amazing woman tremendously, and I had never met her! Then, one day GM posted a picture of Tom that shook me. It was a picture of the same special man I had shared a handshake with in Dallas. When moments such as these start adding up, it is hard to not recognize that something special was happening. It seemed our story was being written, and we just needed to catch up! I soon reached out to GM and explained our unique connection. A few weeks later GM and I connected it was clear this was just the beginning. Our relationship seemed to develop so naturally and before long I knew that this was the woman I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. As our relationship grew I was fortunate to develop a special parallel relationship with GM's mother Barb. I will always be grateful for these precious moments spent with her. With Barb's blessing, along with Briggs' and Lucy's, I asked my best friend to marry me! I am eternally grateful for the moments that led us here today that started with a special handshake.