One formed in routine, duty, and sacrifice. The other in intellectual prowess, art, and play. Brought together by a shared understanding of what it means to suffer and to wrestle with the deepest most existential questions. A foundation of love built on the stuff that makes a lifetime worth living together.

We met at a master's program counseling conference where we both were seeking wisdom and healing. The conference was lame, but we met each other. Wisdom and healing rarely come from Power Point presentations. Our years together, however, which have allowed us to "know each other's difficulties and shadows and remain in sight", have filled our hearts with just what they went searching for in that conference.

Emily: From grounded roots growing up on the west side of Cincinnati, to the historic grounds of the United States Naval Academy, to the battle tested Marine Corps, to a life with two amazing blue-eyed/blonde little girls, my life has taken some unique twists and turns. I’ve experienced many incredible adventures, to include Emma (10) and Elise (8), and many devastating and heartbreaking challenges. In an attempt to “use the bad to serve a good”, I started a Master’s program in Counseling. I didn’t finish the program, but did find my life partner. Never did I expect to find someone that I instantly connected with on the deepest, most soulful levels. From the moment I met him, I had a deep “knowing” that Peter was to be in my life. Then I waited three years for him to propose! We’ve already been through hell and back together and it has made our love and commitment to each other that much deeper. Our life stories haven’t followed “traditional” paths, nor has our relationship. But that is just another dynamic of “us” that I love, we are living our unique story. Which included me painfully, but patiently, waiting..and waiting...for him to be ready to officially propose and why there were no "Save the Dates"! I’m overjoyed to be able to celebrate with you the journeys that brought Peter and I together and the life and family we get to create! Peter: There are many lives in one life. Childhood: surrounded by bro's, skateboarding and Washington rain, video games, drums, and half-off after 9pm Applebee's buffalo wings. Seminary: surrounded by a bro, books, friends, and wise old dudes. Life in the parish: surrounded by saintly-psycho's, running around between playgrounds, pulpits, and hospitals, in a holy-flurry on a "mission from God". Some of that shattered, and some of that is unshatterable. A Peter with mixed shards of all those things in him met Emily, and she understood him. I didn't have to edit any of it for her. Neither of us were sure what to do with the remnants of our first lives, but we noticed in the other a mutually intense person who was capable of keeping up, and knew we would do well to stay close. I'm proud of how we have done that. I'm happy that we have made it. Emily is faithful with the fierceness of a Marine and a Mother. She has loved me well. I don't glorify suffering, but ours's has brought us to a sturdy and good place together. I look forward to seeing what all it will become.