Our story...

This man right here slow danced into my life over the last few years. We met at GriefShare 4 years ago after losing Ed and Jane just 10 days apart. Healing summoned us individually to navigate through our own time and way.

A summer ago, Bill Boyd asked me out on a friendly non-date, date. I chose to go. For a few months afterward, we would easily, but sporadically, converse. Open communication came effortlessly. By January of this year, we began conversing regularly. He listened. I listened. About...well... anything and everything. The honesty was beautiful to me.

In June, he asked me out again. We took a day trip to the lakeshore in South Haven. What a beautiful day with a perfect gentleman. Our talks intensified, strengthened, and deepened... even while a literal thousands of miles spanned the globe between us. By the time he returned from Australia, we found ourselves eager to go out again. We did.

Before we knew it, (my kids already knew it...lol) our hearts were entangled. God orchestrated the unexpected through a friendship that had been blossoming for years in the midst of our losses. And now we have fallen in love at full speed.

When you're our age and you truly understand the fragility and shortness of life... you just don't waste time. We see things differently through lenses that have felt the sting of pain as well as the sweet kindness of our heavenly Father who deeply loves us more than we ever realized. I am in such awe of His AND his love for me.

A friend of a friend said this oh so true and beautifully perfect statement... "We are so happy. Joy after sorrow is so sweet." Never truer words.

Fast forward two weeks... Bill was running errands (haircut, mtg with financial advisor, etc.) and asked me if I wanted to go to Russo's Italian Restaurant & Market for dinner. Definitely.

Once we were seated on the patio, he said we had some homework from his meeting, and he pulled out a folder with a financial paper and a 2nd page attached to it. He suggested that I start on page 2. I looked at him questioningly but promptly turned to page 2. At the top of that page, I read, "Homework Assignment." I proceeded to read all the bullet points on the page until my eyes landed on the following: "Final Question: Will you marry me?" I looked up at him and there he was patiently waiting with the ring in his hand anticipating an answer.

YES! So much yes!

That, my friends, is the nutshell version of the beginning of our journey together.