Ahoy Shipmates! Come enjoy the sunset while we retie the knot!

We first met on a soccer field, where our lives literally collided, but I wouldn't know that was Mike for years to come. We were on opposing teams, and in a speedy and scrappy attempt to retrieve the ball, my breaks failed me. I collided right into Mike. Next thing I know, he's thrown me off of him, and I'm flying through the air and across the field. I tucked and rolled my way through the landing and back onto my feet (this wasn't my first "rodeo"). I then quickly scanned the field for the ball's current location and sprinted off in that direction, evidently leaving both Mike and the ref dumbfounded. I wouldn't realize it until years later, but that day my life was turned upside down in more ways than one. The first encounter that I recall meeting Mike was many months after the soccer incident, at a Buffalo Wild Wings Trivia night. (Although I didn't recognize him from the soccer incident, I would later come to find that he sure recognized me.) I was still new to the Dahlgren, VA area and a new friend of mine, Erika, invited me to this weekly group outing. I didn't attend often, but one time that I did, the only open seat was at the end of the table next to someone I had never met before. That someone was Mike. Now, I was dating someone else at the time, so my "blinders" were on and I viewed all acquaintances as potential friends and nothing more. That being said, I do remember he was sitting at the head of the table, had a bellowing laugh with a broad, beaming smile, and was clearly the "funny one" of the group. I also remember bonding over how both of us were newcomers to VA and our shared interest in four-wheeling, fishing, and other "back woods" activities. Needless to say, about two years later we started dating and the rest is history.

I bet you're wondering how a guy like me got here. There I was playing soccer, in 95 degs with a 100% humidity, which can only be described as the best of VA weather. My lack of attention to physical fitness over the past few years was making me seriously regret volunteering for this death called soccer. At one point, I received the ball when suddenly a squirrel attacked, or at least what I thought was a squirrel. Sara proceeded to work her way up my back and perched on top of my head. The ref and I were completely dumbfounded. The ref reached for his whistle, but before he could pull out a red card, I plucked Sara off my head and tossed her to the side. The ref again reached for a red card, but before he could, the squirrel, err Sara, darted off in hunt of her nut, err soccer ball. The ref, extremely dumbfounded, looked at me and shook his finger in disapproval. I was just trying to come to terms with the fact that I had been fully attacked by a squirrel. The game ended, and I thought that would be the last of the squirrel attacks. Then it happened... I was sitting at the end of the table at Buffalo Wild Wings getting ready for trivia one night. “One shot of tequila and the hottest wing possible please”, I hated trivia. Might as well enjoy the pain with tequila and fire. Next thing I know, in steps the squirrel, err Sara. I was doomed and dumbfounded, what was I to say to this Sara, that I hadn’t officially met yet? Anticipating being confronted with the fact that I tossed her like a sack of flour, the panic set. As it turned out, my fears were only felt by me. We had a great time talking about stories from home. Never once did she mention the soccer field squirrel-ness. She was remarkable. After that encounter I attended trivia weekly for 2 years, in hopes of finding Sara again and getting to know her a little more. Did I mention I hate trivia? After two years of torture, I mean trivia, she finally showed and the rest, as Sara would say, is history.

We had planned to tie the knot in Nov 2021, but God had a different plan. Love is an incredible thing. Its timing is always perfect, and often unpredictable. Which could not have been more true, from the moment Mike and I met, to the moment we said "I do". We were beyond blessed to have our entire nuclear family in attendance. Mike's parents just so happened to be visiting us from FL when we made the decision, and our wedding day was one of momma's last days of alertness and lucidity before her passing only 9 days later. 💞 We thank God for His hand in orchestrating our most perfect union, and John Kimmons for officiating it in the most beautiful and personable way. And we thank my beloved and expert wedding planners ( Mandy Bowen Michelle Selan Sikora Samantha Sikora Becca Ponikvar and Mitchell Parsons ) for swiftly pulling together arrangements within a week. And to top it off, despite an ugly forecast, the weather was absolutely delightful.