Chapter One: Where It Started

We first met on Memorial as psychiatric nurses, working opposite shifts. Our paths only crossed during quick handoffs, but we knew each other in that familiar “same unit, different hours” way.

Chapter Two: A Few Detours

Eventually, Sydney left Illinois for a travel nursing contract in Vermont, followed by one in Florida. After those adventures, she came home in the late spring, planning to rest before taking another contract in the fall.

Chapter Three: The Summer of the Kittens

Soon after returning, Sydney and her family found a litter of kittens at her parents’ house. Raising them became her summer project, and around the same time she started picking up shifts again at Memorial—meaning she and Derek began seeing each other a lot more.

Chapter Four: When Everything Clicked

Those small, familiar interactions turned into longer conversations and a connection that felt surprisingly natural. Sydney had every intention of leaving again for travel nursing, but once we started dating, staying felt like the clear choice. And she’s been home ever since.

Chapter Five: Our Little Zoo

Somewhere along the way, we accidentally built a little zoo together:

Charlie & Jo – Our first two cats, brought home from the litter at Sydney’s parents’. They are fat, lazy, spoiled, and fully convinced they’re in charge.

Mika – A tiny 7-pound former feral cat who desperately wanted to be inside… and now spends 90% of her life asleep on our bed like it’s her personal spa.

Clarabelle – Our goofy, overly friendly corgi who just wants to be loved by everyone she meets.

Robin – Our newest cat and most chaotic addition. She’s adorable, way too smart for her own good, and constantly keeping the rest of us on our toes.

Our home is loud, covered in fur, and a little chaotic—but it’s ours, and we love it.

Chapter Six: The Next Chapter

Less than two years later, Derek proposed, and the rest is history. We’re so excited to celebrate this day surrounded by the people who’ve been part of our lives along the way.