Lindsey grew up in a rural area of central Michigan with her parents (Mike and Pam) and sister (Rachel). She lived an exciting childhood competing in dance competitions; all under the false pretense of getting to go to Disney World, the Mall of America, and American Girl in Chicago... if they won ;) .... and being a hard-core softball player. However, as she transitioned through her life story, Lindsey faced many changes and challenges that helped shaped her to be the marvelous woman that she has become today. Being a studious student (get it), she worked hard from home through her bachelors degree in psychology from Central Michigan University. Like all psychology majors, knowing we are screwed without a Masters' degree or higher, Lindsey sought out the field of School Psychology to show off her ABA skills and work towards her dream career of supporting children on the spectrum. We'll save OUR story for another time on the site, but we wanted to give a quick glimpse into our soon-to-be better halves! By the way, I get to call her Lindsey... you all can stick with Dr. O'Laughlin!

Chase grew up in a much smaller town in rural Oklahoma with his parents (Gary + Nancy) and his brothers (Adam + Brett). As a young child throughout his older teenage years, he frequented Branson, Missouri with his family more than any child should in their lifetime, at which point he realized there are bigger places to travel and see throughout the world. While in high school Chase had the opportunity to enroll in a pre-engineering vo-tech program, which led to him pursuing a Bachelors Degree in Engineering at Kansas State University (Go Cats!). Little did he know that was not in the cards as he switched to a Psychology major halfway through his freshman year. As Chase soon found out, it can be hard to make a career in the field without a higher degree. As he considered his career options, during a junior Seminar class a speaker introduced him to the field of School Psychology. After applying to various programs spanning many states, Chase decided upon returning to Oklahoma to attend graduate school at Oklahoma State University! And that is where the next story will continue!

We first met in a dark, dank basement in the glorious setting of Willard Hall at Oklahoma State University. It was the first time our full cohort at the School Psychology program met one another in-person before the start of our first semester. For the first few months, we didn't interact much outside of our classes. However, thanks to the fantastic Fall line-up from the CW, we began to interact more outside of school watching TV shows together with others from our cohort. Lindsey always teased her friends and family by saying she would find a rich oil-tycoon boyfriend in Oklahoma, but little did she know that the anxious guy sitting next to her was rich with kindness and colorful stories from K-State that kept her entertained...but also intrigued. Eventually, we decided to "give it the ole' graduate school try" and went on a date in Tulsa, OK at Kilkenny's Irish Pub. Thus began the start of a "series of most-fortunate events" that included traveling across the U.S., world, and navigating along the way one of the most fulfilling milestones in life; pet-parenthood....

Just as our relationship began we hit our first big barrier; a LITTLE JEALOUS PUPPY. Chase had decided he needed a companion animal to help him get through graduate school and had set up to buy a Mini-Aussie (formerly named Tripp by the breeder). The first thing little Link did as a puppy, was slip his new dads hands and try to escape in a busy WalMart parking lot in Stillwater. From there, everything became a competition between Lindsey and Link for Chase’s affection. Fortunately, there was enough to go around! Eventually, Link grew on his new step-mother and we became a big happy family once we moved into a bigger apartment together. Then came the problem child… Whether adopted from Alva -or the bowels of hell-, came our vicious adopted angel, Roma. Roma was the little kitty sister that Link never asked for. However, once winter came you could find them snuggling together on the floor and playing around the apartment. Roma grew into being a sweet cat that loves to demand pets in the morning or greet you at the door as you come home. Just as things seemed perfect for Link and Roma after a couple of years together, a new visitor appeared that turned their lives upside down: Maya. The Medical Baby, came into our lives after Lindsey & Chase read the book Free Days with George (by Colin Campbell) and happened to find a breeder nearby of Newfies. What started as a quick trip to see the breed turned into a weekend of crunching numbers to see if we could afford the rascal that escaped the fencing to come see us during our visit. Within two weeks, we were driving back with a time bomb of diarrhea and sleepless nights (GI issues found out through multiple months of vet visits and tests). Today, you can find all of our fur-babies living in harmony together. Link and Maya make the best playmates (Chase refers to them as David & Goliath) and comfort each other when we are away. Roma is the queen of the house and goes where she pleases; getting the bedroom all to herself.