We both were pursuing our goals in our own separate ways, but constantly pushing ourselves to be better people. I had reached a point where I realized I didn’t want to celebrate my goals by myself and thought what the heck? Let’s try online dating. JD was my second date and the best first date I have ever had. Although I thought he was going to catfish me on our first date 😅.

A few hours before we were supposed to meet for tacos and margaritas, he sent me a text saying, “hey, just want to let you know I may not look the same as I did in my online photos.” Long pause and then a second text came in with a photo of blood coming down his nose with the caption that read, “I had a mountain biking accident today and went head first into a tree.” I was skeptical, very skeptical, and so much so I took my time and was casually late. There was no parking when I arrived at the restaurant so I was forced to call him to ask where he had found parking.

As I walked up to the restaurant, I looked up and I saw him standing out front on the sidewalk and thought, "Oh my, I hope that tall, dark haired and well dressed guy is him." He smiled big as I approached him and I just completely went in for a hug.

Over dinner, we laughed, shared stories and even a tear or two over important memories and loved ones that we lost too early. We had the best first date either of us have ever had and it continued on at Drive Shack where I showed off how far I could drive a golf ball. After my first drive, I turned around to see his reaction and I knew by his grin that we were going to have a second date.

We ended up closing down the driving range and talking and hitting golf balls till midnight. JD walked me to my car, held my hand like a gentleman and saw my surfrider foundation license plates. He commented, “is this your car.” I said yes, “I am a beach girl.” It was a night that we will always cherish and remember.

Over the last two and a half years our life has been filled with many lessons learned, adventures lived and many, many memories made. All bringing us closer and stronger together all while shaping and molding us into better versions of ourselves.

Adventures are our favorite. Hiking, paddle-boarding, traveling, golfing and mountain biking but this next adventure we look forward to doing together more than ever!

I could not imagine spending everyday with any one other than JD. Since our second date the only phrase that kept coming to my mind was, “the shoe fits…this feels just right.”

“I used to dream all of my dreams on my own

I thought that was the only way I could feel free

But life has a richness now I've never known

Cause hes sailed round the world and he thinks the world of me”

Our love story is like waves on the beach. Sometimes, it's calming and gentle like a tropical island. Cooling in the hot sun like a sanctuary. Other times, it crashes ashore with hurricane like forces. It becomes unstoppable with intensity. But mostly it's reliable and steady. With each passing wave it becomes more apparent the rhythm leading to the revelation of the bigger picture. Until the rogue wave comes and hits so hard that someone loses their pants. But in the end, the gentle caress of the ocean provides a calming presence to the world.