We have been friends for a long time, meeting for the first time in 2011 at Al Kaber Air Base, Kuwait, where Pam was Paul's boss in the public affairs office. We became fast friends, bonding over our shared experiences in the Air National Guard.

The Guard helped us stay in contact, especially after Paul and his family moved to Knoxville, TN, in 2012. During their time in TN, the Manns visited Carroll Mtn for Soup Day in December 2012!

In 2016, Paul & his family moved from Knoxville to Fairbanks, AK, where Paul continued his career with the ANG.

Over the next six years, we stayed in contact, keeping each other updated with events - good and bad. We were both happily married, Pam & Sidney for over 20 yrs; Paul & Stephanie for almost 30 yrs. God called Sidney home in February 2017, and Stephanie in May 2021.

We "reconnected" in November of 2021 in Madison, WI, at the promotion of a mutual friend - another Kuwait connection! From that meeting, we talked more and then met for dinner when Paul visited Montgomery for training in February 2022. That is when God told us we were supposed to be together ❤️