We’re married!

Papa‘iloa Beach (our favorite spot) on the North Shore, with a beautiful sunset just as the rain cleared. We said “I do,” and learned the deep meaning of aloha. We intended to keep our day intimate having just us—so we did, but had family & friends watching in via LiveStream. That date was already a sentimental date for us over Lilly’s passing. The love this day embodies is tangible.

We were on travel nurse assignments at the same hospital in Boston for pandemic crisis nursing. While I was giving Rich report on a patient— our faces & bodies completely covered in PPE—we could only see each other’s eyes. There was immediately a spark. During our 15 minute "meet-cute” we discovered we shared mutual friends from working at different hospitals in Ohio (shout out Topher and Miranda!) We exchanged phone numbers with the plan to explore the North East—two days later, we caught one of the most beautiful sunsets on the shore of Rhode Island and had dinner at The Lobster Pot. During a time when the world was closed, we opened our hearts to each other.

We stayed in touch as friends while Rosina went onto her next assignment in Phoenix, and I went onto Toledo, Ohio. Two weeks in, Ro became very sick with Covid-19. I kept calling to check on her and FaceTimed abundantly! During that time, stronger feelings developed and a trip was planned. On August 26th, I flew in to spend the week road tripping, camping and backpacking with Rosina and her friend. We had an official date—sushi (although we went vegan shortly after). On that date I asked Rosina to be my woman, and she said “we will see tomorrow. Make sure to eat a light breakfast.” I was beyond confused, but she’s made me live life since our eyes first locked. The next morning, we arrived at Skydive Phoenix. Unbeknownst to me, weeks prior Ro told the guys she avidly jumped “a guy I’m into is coming to visit and I’m pretty sure he’s the one, but if he doesn’t jump then it’s not happening.” At the drop zone I became excited and told Ro “I have always wanted to do this! I’m jumping first!” So we did, and the best adventure of our life started! That week, we went to The Grand Canyon, Kanab, Horseshoe Bend, Bryce Canyon, Zion and Flagstaff to hike the highest peak of Mt. Humphrey’s. We jumped at 12,500 feet, and hiked up 12,633 feet. What an awesome adventure to start the adventure of life together? I easily knew Ro was the one for me! A month after, we moved to Florida together for our next assignment. Since then, we’ve been a family and didn’t need an extravagant engagement to know that this is forever. But, I did ask her and she said YES!!