In 2015, Steve lost his mother after a two-year battle with ALS. To honor her, we plan to officially marry on her birthday. An intimate celebration of love will take place shortly thereafter to share our Union with our friends and family. We will share our anniversary day with Steve’s mother’s birthday to always remember she made it possible for him to be a part of the wonderful life we now share together.

A city boy from Kansas meets a country girl from Texas. Sounds like a far chance these two such souls would find their way to each other. Yet, this is who we are. Enter the modern wonder we call the World Wide Web…and a mobile app called Episode. Yes; we both were writing for the same mobile app. when we first met. Most couples meet through some sort of common interest, and this was ours. After meeting countless fellow writers through the Instagram community, we stumbled upon each other through a mutual contact in the Episode community. In addition to our writing, our careers as a pediatric nurse and school teacher for the visually impaired further kindled our mutual interest in each other. At first, we just commented on each others’ Instagram posts until one fateful day when Holli reached out to me to talk on the phone. My first thought was, “Absolutely not! I don’t even know this person.” But something inside me said, “Just talk to her.” I’m glad I listened. That first phone call turned into a weekly phone call, and by five weeks in, we were talking every day for hours a day. Now, long-distance relationships are difficult, and ours was especially complicated. We were such an unlikely couple to end up where we are. But through the distance and through all the trials and tribulations, we both fought hard and we made it work. Then, one fall day, I packed my car full of all I could and moved from my home state of Kansas where I had lived since I was in kindergarten to southeastern Texas where I knew nothing and no one except Holli. A year later, however, I can’t even imagine calling any other place home. There is a reason they say, “Home is where the heart is.” Because, Holli has my heart completely. I love her with all my heart and am honored and privileged to become her husband. Our situation was never an easy one. But, do you know what has always been easy about our situation? We have had the easiest time becoming best friends. And that friendship quickly has grown into an unshakable bond, an indestructible love for one another other. Holli and I have read many great stories. We have both written several stories we are very proud of and hold near and dear to our hearts. But the real-life story we are now writing together is and always will be our very favorite story!

Once upon a time, there was a girl who dreamed of finding her happily ever after. One day, she met a precious man from Kansas…. And the rest is history. I never dreamed I would find a person who treasures me the way fairytales depicted, but yet I have. We met through writing and I am hopeful and excited to continue writing our story together. He is my love, my best friend, my rock and my forever. Steve, you are my love story and together we will fill the pages of our life; hand in hand, word by word. “You are my love story and I write you into everything I do, everything I see, everything I touch, everything I dream. You are the words that fill my pages.” - a.r. rasher And they lived happily ever after!