Let's begin with a little backstory. Guy was born in the Year of the Dragon, and if you know him then you'd know that a dragon is his spirit animal and that he has great affinity with dragons in general. Michelle does know Guy, and demonstrated that early on in their dating life where they lived two counties apart and spent lots of time individually missing their person. She bought a gift, a medallion, that was a yin and yang symbol, split in half along the curved line in the center, on one side was a majestic dragon which Michelle said, "represented her boyfriend--strong, regal, creative, and virtuous." The other half was a bird of some kind, but definitely not a chicken. Guy explained, "the bird was actually a phoenix, and it really did represent his girlfriend--beauty, grace, renewal, and fiery energy." Each half was on its own necklace cord, and in her idea, they should each have the one that represented themselves, to remind them who they are. And even though they were currently mostly apart, some day in the future they would be united together, forever. Since that day, those two medallions have hung on their rearview mirrors in their respective automobiles, to remind them who they are, and to also remind them that that they are each half of their greater whole in their life partnership. The Dragon and the Phoenix are two of the most iconic and revered symbols in Chinese mythology. These legendary beings come together in many enchanting stories to offer a timeless message of love and balance. Let’s take a closer look at the significance of these mythical motifs. The Chinese dragon (long) and phoenix (fenghuang) represent the ultimate harmonious pairing of opposites, embodying yin (phoenix, feminine) and yang (dragon, masculine). Together, they symbolize auspiciousness, prosperity, and marital bliss. Historically, they have also represented the emperor and empress, symbolizing the perfect union and balance of power. This combination is popular at weddings to represent a happy, balanced, and prosperous marriage. They also signify gender roles--the dragon is the yang (male, power, strength), while the phoenix is the yin (female, grace, virtue). Also the dragon often represents the calm, cool element of water, while the phoenix represents the hot, frenetic, and fiery element of fire. They represent the cosmic balance of the union of heaven (dragon) and earth (phoenix). So the Dragon and Phoenix as a set began as a gift in the lives of Guy and Michelle, and over time they melded into other aspects of their lives. The Dragon is the introverted enneagram eight, reserved, powerful, smart, and strong. A mighty protector with a deep vulnerable heart. And the Phoenix is the extraverted enneagram two, gregarious, exuberant, intelligent, and loving. A majestic feelings forward steward of people with a churning empathic intuitiveness. So, on Saturday, July 11, 2026, the Dragon and the Phoenix will unite together in matrimony, and Guy and Michelle would like you to join them. They also both happen to be doctors, by the way. #twodoctorsonewedding

In early September, Michelle inquired what Guy might want for his birthday. He said he wanted a full family photo so Michelle set to work to organize all the children and grandchildren for an afternoon picnic a few days before his birthday at Burfoot Park, a place that holds special memories for Guy and his children. Little did Michelle know that Guy was planning a double cross surprise. Photos were taken of the entire family, and eventually it was just Michelle and Guy standing in front of the camera as all of their children and grandchildren stood and watched. As it was secretly arranged, the camera started to record the two of them standing there, and Guy was asked if there was anything else he wanted for his birthday. "Yes," he replied as he pulled a purple box from his pocket, dropped to a knee, and asked Michelle to marry him. Michelle began to cry, one of the most amazing and happiest cries of her life, and through her tears, she very happily said, "yes."