Connect How did your love story begin?

I had just turned 16 in 1990 when I moved to a small rural town and quickly met a few peers. One evening, after coming home from my part-time job, I found him and some of those kids waiting for me. They were excited to introduce us, so I hopped on the handlebars of his bike and rode to the nearby park. We’ve been hanging out ever since, building a life together.

What is your favorite memory you've shared as a couple?

Aside from having our two wonderful boys, our non-traditional honeymoon adventure is at the top of the list. In the summer of ’98, we packed up a small Chevy Blazer and set off on a road trip from Central Illinois to the far corner of Maine, following Phish on tour. We traveled through Wisconsin, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and New York, finally wrapping up the summer at their 3-day Lemonwheel festival. Since starting our family, music has remained our favorite way to bond on date nights.

What would you do with $20,000?

We’d start by investing some money into our new business venture, but mostly we’d focus on making memories. We’d take our boys, their significant others, and our 1-year-old grandbaby on an epic vacation. We'd love glamping since -camping is our favorite- maybe head to the mountains or the ocean. Visiting the Grand Canyon would be a bucket list dream come true, and attending the most family-friendly music festival together would be the icing on the cake. We’d feel truly humbled.