Laine and I both take pride in being Colorado natives. Laine was born and raised in Fort Collins, and although my twin brother and I grew up in a small town in central Maine, we were born in Aurora, Colorado. Some folks call that a technicality, but I have the birth certificate and a bumper sticker to prove it. We each left the state at different times, only to find our way back after failed relationships, new jobs, and eventually a dating app message that started the next chapter of our lives. We met at Chautauqua Park in Boulder in September 2021 for a trail run. This was exactly 365 days before the birth of our daughter, Madelaine Jay Sherman. Our lives have not been the same since, and we are so grateful for every blessing we have been given and for the chance to share them with family and friends near and far. Before I met Laine, I was living in a one-bedroom apartment in Denver, surviving mostly on tubs of spinach, tuna packets, fast food, and booze. A woman’s touch truly can work wonders on a GI system. Mine certainly benefited from a multivitamin and many home-cooked meals. We have always been outdoor enthusiasts, spending our free time hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, and doing pretty much anything that gets us out into creation. I moved back to Colorado in 2019 for a job and to be closer to the mountains, but over time I realized something was still missing. The mountains may have pulled me back to this state, but finding my family, the love of my life, and our sweet angel Madi was my real path and calling. Since welcoming Madi, we have settled down, bought a home, and started sharing this beautiful state with the people we love. This is something we plan to continue for the rest of our lives. We are so excited to celebrate this sacrament and the journey we have been on for more than four years. Having family gather from Maine, Massachusetts, Texas, California, and Colorado is humbling, special, and sacred. The Rockies in May are a sight to behold with spring runoff swelling the rivers and long sun-soaked afternoons warming the mountainsides. We hope to see you in Estes Park on May 28, 2026!