We're Getting Married!

We met in the fall of 2021, after the burial of our dear friend Col. Rick Martinez at Arlington National Cemetery. Jeanne’s Goddaughter Aissa—Rick’s daughter—introduced us. The conversation came easy, with a surprising number of mutual friends and a shared love for the Martinez family and the Marine Corps. Jeff flies for NetJets out of Duluth, Minnesota, a place Jeanne only knew because her mom was born there during WWII. Although Jeanne was pulled away from our initial conversation, Jeff made a toast later that evening, Jeanne thought, “He seems like a really, really nice guy.” A few months later, Jeanne messaged him on social media. Jeff replied: “Next time I fly into Dulles, I’d love to take you to dinner.” That dinner was the start of something we both knew we needed. Since then we’ve built a long-distance relationship filled with travel, home-cooked meals, laughter, and loyalty. We share a love of history, nature, family, and meaningful work. Jeanne loves Jeff’s steadiness, humor, and that he’s always fixing something. Jeff admires Jeanne’s warmth, drive, and big heart—especially how she welcomes everyone in. Her kids, Colin, Patrick, and Anna, all give Jeff the thumbs-up just as Jeff's family thinks they are perfect for one another. We’re excited for the day when we share the same home—where Jeff heads out hunting and Jeanne writes or teaches, and we both finish the day with a dinner that’s more than grapes and pb & j sandwiches. We’re deeply grateful for what we’ve found in each other. Though we met through shared grief, we believe in divine providence. We plan to love each other well, serve God, and never take a single day for granted. We have chosen to be married in this small, historic town as we begin the next chapter as husband and wife. We plan on doing a lot of travelling, visiting family, and making our home a great place for company! Thank you for your love and support as we finish our life story TOGETHER :) We are so happy! xxxooo