After a short 30-hour trial on Match.com, Val made one attempt and sent one email in hopes of connecting to one person. That person was Nick. Our first date was a couple days later at the Ash Creek Saloon where we both pulled up in our Subarus and things were off to a great start! We talked and laughed for hours and enjoyed watching the "live entertainment" of a karoke night. It was only by coincidence that our first date was on Star Wars Day! Meanwhile, Val found sentimental significance that May the 4th was the birthday of her last grandparent who recently passed. Either way, it's safe to say that The Force was strong with us that night and every day since!

We headed up to Burlington, Vermont, one of our favorite places, for a long weekend getaway. We stayed with Nick's good friends, Mike & Marissa, and spent Saturday together in Downtown Burlington. After lunch and shopping on Church Street, we headed down to the Foam Brewery by the gorgeous Lake Champlain waterfront. Mike & Marissa went into the brewery and the two of us walked across the street to take pictures at the lake. Before we started to walk back towards the brewery, Nick first presented Val with the Bride & Groom itty bittys, and then got down on one knee with a ring box holding the most gorgeous engagement ring! It all happened so fast and was an incredible surprise, as strangers cheered and took pictures! Val said "YES!" through tears streaming down her face admiring the beautiful ring and in total shock of it all! Afterwards, we joined Mike & Marissa in the brewery and continued to celebrate the rest of our memorable engagement weekend! Our Vermont getaway was filled with good friends & good food, good times & surprises all in a magnificent setting with breathtaking views...quite the amazing start of our journey to happily ever after.