She didn't know that when he asked if she liked animal heads on the wall, that his passion would lead to taxidermy becoming the prominent decor in the home. He didn't know that when she said she said she liked to garden that meant the whole family out until dusk working in the yard. He told her he knew how to cook. She found out later that was a loose reference to warming a frozen lasagne. She said she liked to sing. He found out that meant singing along to the wrong words off key. But what they both knew from the beginning was that their love was meant to be, simple and strong, putting God, each other and family first. We are so excited to continue on this journey together, giving our best.

We grew up in the same neighborhood, went to the same high school, yet never met. Mark fell in love and married my best friend from high school and college but we never met. As adults we lived one stoplight away off the same street, unaware. I had never heard of Mark until Angela and I reconnected over FB messenger several months prior to her passing. I briefly remember an impression of him at her service, but we did not meet. Months later I received a FB friend request from him, as did all of Angela’s friends. As I scrolled through his photographs of the kids, I was so struck by Mark and Angela’s beautiful children. Daphne’s big brown eyes and her mamas smile. I knew I had to meet them. Griffin looked so much like his uncle Shane I accidentally slipped and called him Shane on one of our first outings. Something inside me shifted and I fell in love with all of them. It had to be God working in our lives, lining up our broken paths. He brought us together and healing slowly happened. Our life together has bloomed. We are so excited to move to the next chapter of this journey together continuing to grow and looking forward to our future.