The Adventure Begins, Here on out...

Rob and I met long distance in 2014 when I was stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana and he was in his second year of law school at UMKC. Introduced by our friends Andrew and Vanessa, we spent many weeks talking on the phone and then we spent two great weekends together in Kansas City. With our busy lives, commitments to practicing and studying law, Rob coaching crossfit, traveling to National level trial advocacy competitions, and me balancing prosecuting felony cases and everything in between as a JAG—when we met we knew one thing for certain—we wanted to try to stick together one day at a time. Gus my bassett approved of Rob when he came to visit so I knew he was a keeper. Every few weeks we would see each other over long weekends. From visiting each others families in St. Louis & Chicago, working out together in crossfit gyms across the Midwest to DMB in Dallas, Wichita, Chicago, St. Louis and The Gorge. One day at a time turned into weeks, months, and years. We’ve shared in memorable family traditions with Schmittgens Christmas in Park Forest and Christmas in Queretaro, Mexico. Along the way Gus was by our side, then Dexter Fowler the Pittie joined the squad. After Gus passed, we needed to get Dexter a buddy because he was sad and Barack Barry Schmittgens joined the fam. We bought a house at the beginning of the year and at the end of 2018 Rob proposed. This adventure called life is a challenging one, obstacles, challenges, opportunities to support each other followed by vulnerable moments that one of us could not get by without the other. In this beautiful thing called life, I cannot imagine experiencing it all with anyone else by my side. As we prepare to our wedding day, we are so excited at the thought of bringing our closest family and friends together to witness us exchange vows, commit to growing together and being each others person for all the days to come. We are honored to have you on our journey as the Adventure Begins from Here On Out!