It all began in 1987—our freshman year of high school. Just kids trying to find our way through crowded hallways. On picture day, we ended up in the same study hall. Out of nowhere, she asked me, “How does my make-up look?” To anyone else, it might’ve seemed small. We didn’t realize it then, but a spark had been lit. Too shy to speak much at first, we each secretly asked a mutual friend how to get in touch—without knowing the other did the same. What started as a crush became a new beginning.

It was a crisp fall evening, cold enough to see our breath, with the sky fading into twilight. We ended up behind a quiet medical building, in an empty parking lot—a random spot only found when you’re young and wild. We were talking, laughing, doing things young couples do, when suddenly one of us grabbed the other’s coat and took off running, with the other one chasing not far behind them. The chase ended—with a kiss. Not just any kiss though, our first that we both remember to this day.

We would use it to finally do something we’ve rarely allowed ourselves to do over the past three decades: celebrate us. After 29 years of marriage and 38 years of loving each other, we've spent nearly every moment building a life centered around our six incredible children and we wouldn’t change a thing, but in dedicating much of ourselves to them, we've often placed our own time together on the back burner. This would provide us with an opportunity to recharge and reconnect.