Our story was written by the Author of love. We attend the same church in Chicago, but it took a few people working behind the scenes to bring us together. 
 
Although Chicago is a large city, our narrative is a “small world” story. It all began when the daughter of my grandfather’s old buddy, Barbara, called to help me find a Nurse Practitioner job in the city. Little did I know, J.C. grew up knowing Barbara’s family and was their close friend. When Barbara found out we both went to Park Community Church, she said, “Oh, I know a great guy there whom you should meet.”
 
Our first meeting happened to be on a tennis court that was orchestrated by a mutual friend of ours from church and I invited my brother to tag along. The doubles game eventually turned into a singles game. Then after we played tennis three times J.C. finally asked me to dinner. 
 
After a busy work week, I often look forward to meeting J.C. at his apartment on Friday nights to make pizza and sip wine or in J.C.’s case bourbon. On one of these relaxing evenings, just before Christmas, J.C. made the everyday into a special one to remember. We planned to exchange gifts that night because we both were going home to be with family for the holidays. J.C. surprised me with a gift embroidered with my new initials I would have as his wife and a thoughtful card he read outloud to me. Then he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. Beaming with joy, “I quickly said, yes!” We gathered with friends later that night to share the love.
 
The small world got smaller when I learned J.C.’s aunt lived in Castle Park, on Lake Michigan— where my mother used to go for family reunions as a child. When we went to visit them last summer, his aunt opened up their coffee table book to a picture of my mom’s family and asked, “Are these your relatives?”  
 
This mutual, fond-memory place once again brought families together to celebrate our engagement. In the middle of the wild Michigan winter, we enjoyed a friendly but competitive paddle tennis tournament. Then everyone enjoyed gifts, toasts, and a cozy meal.
 
Our story has only just begun…

OUR LOVE STORY