We met on Valentine's Day 20 years ago. The spark between us was instant and undeniable, and that night even ended in an unexpected hug. We shared an innocent kiss the following St Patrick's Day. Then, a little time later, after a party at my house, Beth and I sat up all night sharing stories from our childhood. We both consider that night as a foundational night of our relationship and a major reason our marriage has been so successful, as it provided a deep connection from the very beginning.

Our 12th Anniversary was during COVID quarantine. Since we couldn't go out, we instead had our own fancy date night at home, with the help of our two kids, 6 & 11 years old. We set up a table in the backyard, accentuated with candles and string lights to create a romantic atmosphere. We got dressed up and enjoyed a wonderful dinner, cooked and served to us by the kids. After dinner we danced under the stars, while our kids danced next to us. It was our favorite date night we have ever had.

First we would take a trip to our family happy place, Universal Studios. It is collectively our family's favorite place on Earth. The rest would go to paying off medical debt. Beth is a survivor of brain surgery, having been diagnosed with Chiari Malformation about 10 years ago. Then 3 years ago I was diagnosed with a very rare autoimmune lung disease, which has limited my ability to work full time. The money would help tremendously with the debt those health issues have left us with.