What started as casual conversations turned into something real, and the rest is our story:

Some love stories don’t start with roses and candlelight, they start with soda/pizza runs and convenience store small talk. Ours began at Casey’s in Elsberry, back in August 2019. I had just moved to town a few months prior, starting over in a new state, figuring life out one shift at a time. He was new too, just settling into his role as the town’s newest police officer. We crossed paths through work and became fast friends. He’d stop by the store regularly, checking in, keeping an eye on things, not just for me, but for the whole community. (Let’s just say a few shoplifters underestimated how well we worked together)

That Christmas, he even helped my family during a difficult time, he helped me land a job interview with Mercy because he believed in me and saw my passion. If it weren’t for Tom, I wouldn’t have had that opportunity. That was just one month before the pandemic began, and his support gave me the strength to face what came next.

Though we were just friends back then, we stood by each other through life’s many ups and downs. It wasn’t until July 2023 that our friendship turned into something more, and everything shifted in the best way.

Our first official date was at Sushi AI, and from that night on, something just felt right. It was a simple evening, but it marked the beginning of something we both had been waiting for, whether we knew it or not.

Not long after, we faced one of the most terrifying moments of our lives. Tom was seriously injured in a shooting accident, and as I held him, waiting for help to arrive, it was in that moment, everything stopped, the fear of losing him was overwhelming. By the Grace of God, he pulled through, and together we began the long road of healing.

Just 2 short weeks of almost losing him, I faced one of my own most personal heartbreaks, while Tom was still in the ICU, my son, Dan, was admitted at the same time and this being a third admission in under a year, it was then decided it was time he needed to be cared for outside of our home. It was a painful decision and a time filled with grief and uncertainty, but Tom was there, steadfast, kind, and strong...and still healing himself. Just like I had been for him, he was my anchor.

That’s when I truly knew: this wasn’t just love. This was something deeper, tested, unshakable, and Full of Grace.

Today, our life is rooted in intentional togetherness. With 8 kids and 4 grandkids, life moves fast, but we choose to slow down where it matters most: with each other. Whether we’re tagging along on work trips, grabbing a bite at our favorite local spot, or just sitting in quiet, comfortable silence, we make space for connection. We’ve been through a lot. But through it all, we’ve shown up, side by side. He’s still the one who makes me laugh the hardest, even on the hard days. And I don’t take a second of it for granted. This is love we’ve worked for. And it’s worth every bit of it.

Our story may not be traditional, but it’s ours, raw, resilient, and real. We’ve walked through fire, and now we’re walking toward forever. Hand in hand.