We decided on forever!

Do you believe in fate? Both Peter and I grew up in the Hudson Valley, about 40 minutes apart, never knowing each other. Let’s go back to 2015. January of the that year brought big changes for each of us. I had just moved out of my parent’s home in New York and left for college in Pennsylvania. Hundreds of miles away, Peter was getting ready to be honorably discharged from the Marine Corps in North Carolina after 8 years of service. Peter’s twin brother (and best man), Andrew, was stationed as a recruiter for the Marine Corps in Bloomsburg. This was the very town I had moved to. I went about my days, settling into my new home and adjusting to life on my own. My best friend (and maid of honor), Alana, had been living there for a year before me and introduced me to the friends she had already made. They welcomed me in with open arms! Its now June. Peter had been out of the military for a few months and made the decision to leave North Carolina and move in with Andrew in Bloomsburg. One day in June, I went out with my new friends and Peter with his. Little did we know, we had a few of the same friends! Our friends realized we were both from New York originally and casually introduced us. We talked and then went our separate ways. I didn’t get his name and was too shy to ask my friends. Through the rest of the summer, we crossed paths a few times, but neither of us had the guts to make a move! So now its September 23rd. Alana and I joined her friend and a few others to celebrate his birthday. We were having a great time when I noticed someone familiar across the room. I had been telling Alana all summer about this guy I had met but was never able to point him out. Well, there he was! I leaned over to Alana and said “remember that guy I’ve been telling you about?? That’s him!!!” I pointed straight at him... and he noticed! Was it fate? We sure thought so and decided to spend some time together. From that point on, we were inseparable. Over 3 years later, he proposed and here we are!

Every year since I can remember, Thanksgiving with my family meant time with our loved ones and celebrating all that we are thankful for. We almost always gathered at my parents’ home for a delicious feast! Well, Thanksgiving 2018 was no different except that we celebrated the Friday after so that everyone could be there (as we all grow older, work schedules tend to get in the way!). This wasn’t any ordinary Thanksgiving/Black Friday either... it was my parents’ anniversary! We had so much to thank God for: health, happiness, family, myself finally starting nursing school... I could go on and on. The aroma of the food we were about to eat was beginning to fill up the entire house and then we heard the words we all were waiting for: “the turkey is ready”. Finally! So we all gathered in the dining room in a big circle and began our family prayer tradition. We each would pray about what we were thankful for before we sat down to eat. Lucky me, I got to go first! With tears already streaming down my cheeks, I gave my thanks. And so we went about the circle, we even got a baby announcement from my cousin and his wife! Oh how my face was already swollen with joy! Last, but certainly not least, Peter had his turn. He began giving his thanks, then turned to me and began saying how thankful he was for me. Cue more tears! Before I knew it, he was down on one knee and I just began sobbing. I couldn’t even catch my breath. Here, in this moment, surrounded by the people I loved, the man of my dreams asked me to marry him! Of course as soon as I could gather the words, I said “YES!”. Peter could not have planned it any better. I was completey surprised and he even had some of my family in on it! I never even noticed my brothers and a few others recording on their phones. As we reached out to the rest of the family and my in-laws-to-be, our hearts were overflowing. We are forever thankful for each other and the love and support of our families as we take this next big step!

Love is patient… but we couldn’t wait! These past two years have brought sickness, distance, heartache and even loss. But, we have come to realize that these past two years were also a time God knew we all needed. It gave us time to refine ourselves and our relationship with Him. While we wanted to be able to celebrate our love and union safely, we grew more and more weary of “waiting it out”. After having holiday gatherings stripped from us for what felt like way too long, we finally got to spend much needed time with our families this past Christmas. And that’s when we both just knew it was time. In an intimate ceremony, or “mini-mony” as we’ve been calling it, we decided to begin our forever. We were surrounded by our immediate family and bridal party, and I got to marry my best friend. Although we have said “I do”, for now, we have something special still in store for August! We cannot wait to seal our marriage and celebrate with ALL of our family and friends and be able to have you all share in OUR HAPPILY EVER AFTER!