Jerry's take, edited only slightly by Lindsey:

I met Lindsey by chance when I was a Master Bar Technician at the Woodland Roadhouse. At the time, I had no idea that a young, beautiful, intelligent, 22 year old School Teacher was going to walk through the door and change my life... but, that my friends, is what happens when you least expect it.

And, as is the case with most of the greatest things in life, the best part of this story took some time to develop.

Side note - Against my better judgment, and not at all aligned with my Christian Values, there are occasional parts of this story that involved alcohol. I know this will come as a shock to many of you, but yes, I did (as a Bar Service Employee) partake in mingling with my patrons with a random beverage from time to time, but I digress.

Anyway, the moment I saw Lindsey on this random cold February night I knew there was something special about her. Over the course of a few weeks I began to learn more about Lindsey and I enjoyed our chats over dinner and drinks when, by chance, "the new girl in town" would stop in. But, as is the case with most things in life, we are taken in many different directions and I would end up leaving the Bar Management game (and Woodland Roadhouse) to follow a different path.

Months went by and I had not seen my new found friend since leaving my tending gig. Until...!

One night, when I decided to stop at the bar to say hello to some of my friends that were there, and by chance, Lindsey was among the crowd. We picked right back up where we had left off and chatted and laughed as the hours ticked on. As it so happened, this night was also my Mother's birthday and my parents shocked me by walking through the bar door as well. As I watched, my mother sat down and started chatting Lindsey up without knowing her at all. My mother even said to her, "Jerry doesn't ever introduce me to his girlfriends." Lindsey had to explain to her that I was not in fact her boyfriend and that we were just friendly acquaintances. I knew that this was the moment that I needed to change the story. I asked Lindsey if I could borrow her phone because I didn't have mine with me and proceeded to send myself a text message to have her number. I know, I know. Slick Rick over here. From there, things progressed and Lindsey and I stayed in contact regularly. It was Memorial Day weekend of 2010 when I invited Lindsey over for a bonfire at my house with my friends. We became an official couple that night.

Fast forward to July and things are going strong. Lindsey's apartment lease is ending and she is stressing about finding a new apartment. I ask her to move in seeing how we are often typically together at my house anyway and she says to me, "what if this doesn't work out?". Without missing a beat, I famously responded with, "but, what if it does?".

The rest is history, ladies and gentlemen.

This story, our story, hasn't always been rainbows and butterflies; It has come with many ups and downs and trials and tribulations. But, the constant has always been love. We have endured the hardships and steadied our ship for almost 15 years, bringing three beautiful children aboard. Lindsey is the best thing that has ever happened to me and is my true north.

(Disclaimer: This story, as told through my eyes, is truthful but also lined with humor. It isn't meant to offend anyone.)

Lindsey's take:

Jerry has done a wonderful job of summarizing the story of how we met and came to be. I will simply add that during one of our first meetings, I offered to help Jerry with a college-level math class that he was talking to me about. I assured him that I'd just graduated with a teaching degree and was the perfect person for the task. If you know me, you might or might not know that I also nearly failed all of my own college math classes and had no business offering to help someone else. Up to that point, I'd never offered help in an area that I personally sucked at, but there was something about Jerry that compelled me to put myself out there. And from there, so would begin the story of putting myself out there in a way that was foreign and frightening; the story of tripping, stumbling, falling flat on our faces at times... but falling, nonetheless, in Love.