We're getting married!

From organic bonds to life bond. F A L L . 2013 Once upon a time Chris Bernard served as a Supplemental Instructor for Organic Chemistry. He stood up to introduce himself to the class, and I thought, "Dang, what a cutie!" I was a busy bee, as well, and didn't attend a single one of Chris's review sessions until the end of the semester - maybe because I thought I had "orgo" down (lol, I didn't) or because I knew Chris would just be a distraction. -- Upon exiting that first review session, I *bravely* approached Chris trying to flirt with him - SHUT DOWN. Chris called me Sarah. Little did we each know that life works in mysterious ways, and only a year later, we would be set up by a good mutual friend. S U M M E R . 2014 Chris stopped into Magnolia Bistro, where I was waitressing for the summer. He tipped me generously at 45% for excluding all vegetables from his plate. We had some small talk, but no attempts at flirting were made, lesson learned. However, brewing at Magnolia Bistro was a budding friendship with Keri Sullivan - that mutual friend who would come to be the ultimate matchmaker. F A L L . 2014 Life was moving forward: Chris got into medical school, and I was on the pre-PA track. With exams having consumed my 21st birthday, Keri, that good friend who happened to know both Chris and myself, encouraged us to meet up. Okay, admittedly, I reached out to Keri to let her know that I still had googly eyes for the organic chemistry nerd. So Keri sent the text - turns out Chris had been scoping out Katrina on campus! Chris said, "what do I have to lose?!" and took a chance on the Essex girl. We met up in Downtown Burlington that evening, bonding over Essex roots, UVM, and science talk. It's safe to say the rest is history! -- Got him ;)

After 4 years of courtship, I decided to scoop K up for a lifetime to come. We'd been through a lot up to this point - busy medical & PA school schedules and almost 2 years of long distance to just name a couple. I knew that I had to make this moment exceptionally special. And, well, I think I did. -- Truthfully, K is not easy to surprise, but I was determined to keep it on the down low, all to the very last second. She wasn't going to see this coming. -- On 12/26/18, I made the 6-hour trip from Corning, NY to spend some time with my one true love. I told her we were meeting someone for lunch the following day. Remember how I said she's not easy to surprise? This is why: she asked me relentlessly ALL DAY who we were meeting; I swear she went through a list of 20 people! I said "no" to every single one. Haha, she still couldn't figure it out, but yet it was so obvious! With instructions to wear something very casual, Katrina started to divulge, believing this wasn't going to be a "serious" thing. We enjoyed our day, and I thought about how my perfect plan might actually work! -- We got ready & headed to Downtown Burlington - Burlington Bay to be exact. Pulling into the parking lot, "Kit" and Kendra "Kin" saw each other. Queue the girly screams and&endless smiles - it had been MONTHS since these two had seen each other! I whispered to myself, "nailed it." K wouldn't have guessed this in a thousand years - she thought this was the biggest, best & only surprise of the day! -- While K fetched us some water, Kendra and I did some last-minute scheming. We enjoyed lunch before heading down to the Waterfront - Katrina walked right into their trap! even having suggested the Waterfront for a nice post-lunch walk & some scenic pictures on the lake. -- After a few (a lot) of pictures of Katrina & Kendra, Kendra captured moments of us. AND, THERE IT WAS. I said I had ONE more surprise, and before she knew it we were #becomingthebernards! -- Nailed it.