We met like a lot of people do today, online dating. It was during the heart of Covid-19, and people were still cautious about going out. Well that didn't stop us one bit. With persistence on Tom's side, Laurel agreed to go on our first date. We ended up having dinner in Chadds Ford, Pa at a restaurant called Antica. It was a great date with many laughs, and we haven't looked back since.

First off lets go back a couple weeks, when Tom asked Laurel's parents for permission to marry her. He reached out to her mom and dad, asking if they could sit down and talk. A date was picked, and Tom headed over after work. Tom sat down at the table with her parents, he was very nervous and didn't know why, breaking the tension they asked, so you want a loan? Everyone laughed and Tom asked for their blessing, they said yes and hugs happened. The plan was to propose Christmas morning, but the ring was delayed in a freak ice storm and it was delayed. It finally showed up the day after Christmas. Now the new plan, with Laurel's parents help was to throw a NYE party at our house. While partying we were singing karaoke, which was a blast. Everyone was killing it, passing the mic and no one skipped a beat. When it was Tom's turn, he had the song picked out days in advance. (Tom wont lie, he did some practicing, lol.) The song he chose was Big, Big Plans by Chris Lane. The song was spot on with his plans and worked out great. Laurel said YES! Her parents, Tom's mom, our siblings and cousins got to witness it. It was a special day that we will never forget.