Our love story began on a spring night— a beach sunset, a CO guy traveling in his van, & love at first sound/sight. Ian was ignored by the bartender, Rose felt his patient energy from across the bar. She never made the first move— until she did. “Do you need a drink?” One moment of happy hour courage and what was supposed to be one night in St. Pete became forever. She’d dreamed of van life. He’d dreamed of someone who saw him like she did. A year to the day, he proposed on the same beach.

We have many wonderful memories and travel adventures, but our favorites always involve our animals. While wedding planning, we found an abandoned dog on a strawberry farm. We already had four dogs, but she stole our hearts. Rose had always wanted to rescue a pitbull “one day”—and a little sooner than planned, this pittie became our first rescue together! Now lovingly known as Strawberry Rhubarb, aka Ruby. Since then, Rose surprised Ian with a tortoise, and Ian surprised her with chickens!

If we won $20,000, we’d put it toward continuing to build a peaceful space to grow our family—with children, animals, expanding our garden and fruit forest, and all the life we can nurture. We still have some repairs from last season’s hurricane damage that this would help a lot with. But most importantly for hope (and some necessary help) for a baby. Our dream is a future with a big family rooted in rescue, sustainability, and giving back.