Once Upon A Time . . .

in a land called Match.com .... John_m4522 and SunshineC615 met (or sort of). John not familiar with the web ways of the land sent some messages to this sunshine cutie. He thought she looked like fun and trouble.... if he only knew! ;) It took awhile for Carly to reply, but she did. The two talked about a familiar love of country music and concerts. They exchanged numbers and started "texting."

It was a month later, on a humid mid September day in the rowdy land of Burgettstown; that these two old souls would meet. John remembered that Carly might be at the Jason Aldean concert. It took awhile to find each other in the sea of trucks, tailgaters and american flags. But John will never forget when Carly came over in a cowgirl hat, jean skirt and cowboy boots with crosses on the front. She walked up to him and offered him some "vodak gummy bears," her own creation.

Now, sweet Carly was quite at the end of her rope with dating, about to give up. She wasn't having luck on match, and did not want to meet another "weirdo." But her friend Kelly pushed her to just "go meet this Country John from Match." And boy, will she never forget the image of when she met John. She turned the corner and there was this slender man in a faded grey t-shirt. He was just leaning against a truck, and when he saw her, he pulled his shades down and waived to signal her over. He had a little bit of scruff on his face and was sipping on a Miller Lite. From a few feet away she could tell he was ruggedly handsome.

They say when you meet your soulmate time stands still. Neither of them know how long they stood there talking, it was easy conversation. Before they knew it, they could hear cheers and music. It was time to go into the concert and John offered to walk her in. As they started walking, John reached for her hand, and they both knew, they didn't want to let go. Unbeknownst to them, Kelly snapped a picture of this moment. The two of them holding hands and walking along. Little did they know, that moment was just the beginning of a beautiful adventure.

From that day, John and Carly were in constant contact; calling, texting, and planning dates. Neither are sure if it was that time teaching Carly how to shoot guns (she's a lucky first shot) or walking through John''s favorite part of the woods on a crisp fall day that sealed their fate.

They had grown up in each others back yards never knowing how close the other was the whole time. Baptized at the same church there lives were on similar paths. They both grew up living in houses their Dad's built, and attended church regularly. Both are the first born's and the oldest of all the grandchildren in their families. It's no surprise they have a great passion for their families and faith.

One sunny Sunday driving around like their Daddy's used to take them, they both realized they had found a unique, one of a kind love. And that that was confirmed when they both reached to turn the dial up to an ol' Randy Travis tune, "I'm going to love you... forever and ever, forever and ever .... Amen."