“We’re getting married!”

Who would have thought having a white, fluffy dog that loves to sit outside and bark at everything and nothing at the same time would ultimately be the reason behind how we were ever able to be introduced? Well, that is how our story below goes. Truly, all because of a dog! If it hadn't been for Leila always parking herself out by Karen’s fence watching everyone and everything go by, the Thacker family, Phil, Angie, Kendall and Bella, would never have seen her. They would not have nicknamed her "Fluff" and looked for her each time they drove by Karen’s house. They would not have stopped Karen as she passed by their house one day while out walking Leila so they could meet Fluff. A fan club Leila had no idea she had! Karen struck up a friendship with Phil, Angie and the girls that day. A friendship that would change two lives. All because of a dog. Fast forward a year or so, as Phil and Angie were showing Karen the pool they just put in, they asked her if she was dating anyone. They had a friend they said- the nicest, most laid back guy. He's tall, a teacher (math nonetheless, like Karen), and has a college-aged son. Oh, they said, he lives around the corner from you, at the front of the neighborhood. What??!! Come to find out, Karen and Derek have lived in the same neighborhood, a 5 minute walk from each other, for 10 years and knew nothing about the other! Drove by each other's houses thousands of times in those 10 years and never saw the other outside. Not even once. So what did Karen do? Well, began walking the dog past Derek's house a bit more often of course, hoping to catch a glimpse (creeper!). It was to no avail. Derek also began creeping in his own way... going the long way out of the neighborhood to drive by Karen's house hoping to catch a glimpse of her. Also to no avail. All because of a dog. Fast forward a couple months, Karen and Derek finally meet at Phil and Angie's house at a birthday party they were invited to. This was the planned first meeting. Karen, knowing no one but Phil and Angie, almost did a shot of tequila before leaving her house, but decided against it. Derek actually did do a shot of bourbon before leaving his. Somehow they arrived at the birthday party at the same time, parking right behind each other, introduced themselves outside in the street, walked into the house together, and the rest is history! So, now here we are, three and a half years later. We’re planning a wedding, renovating Derek's house, and telling you all our story. All because of a dog!