I was a single mom with two little girls. Shawn was a young Navy sailor. We met at a friend’s BBQ in Kings Bay, Georgia, where I watched him walk my youngest, Abbi, around the pond to feed the ducks. I was smitten. Shawn thinks he made the first move by asking me out, but I know better. After our date, I turned around, kissed him, and the rest is history. Twenty-five years later, we’ve raised a family, welcomed grandkids, faced melanoma together, and still choose each other every day.

23 yrs of military life took us across the country and around the world. Some of our best memories were the cross-country road trips to new duty stations, squeezing kids, pets, and everything we owned into one vehicle while chasing the next adventure. But our favorite memory was renewing our vows in Hawaii on our 10th anniversary. Barefoot on the beach, surrounded only by our children, we were reminded that no matter where life sends us, home has always been each other.

For over two decades, military life dictated where we lived and when we moved. Now, for the first time, the destination is our choice. After Shawn’s 23 years of Navy service, we purchased an RV to begin the adventures we’d spent years dreaming about. We’d use the $20,000 to explore Yellowstone, Mount Rushmore, Carlsbad Caverns, and countless state parks. After decades of building a life, we’re ready to spend this chapter collecting memories, stories, and experiences together.