Connect How did your love story begin?

8 years before we met my wife, Eva-Maria wanted to be an exchange student. Being from Germany she tried to sign up through a program and they declined her application. An organization called Open Door approved it and sent her close to Little Rock Arkansas. Though she enjoyed her time as a senior in high school she felt homesick. After her trip, Open Door asked if her family would be willing to take a student. They agreed. In 8 years they took my Brother in after his host families abandoned him.

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

My Brother got along well with her parents but she had already moved out. They invited him to stay for his remaining 6 months and invited my parents and I to visit him. We did and when I saw Eva for the 1st time as the Hamburg, Germany Airport baggage claim doors opened it was Love at first sight. we spent the next 7 days doing day trips around Germany and talking the whole time. After flying home we wrote letters back and forth. We'd be engaged 1 year later and married just 3 months after that.

What would you do with $20,000?

We'd probably take our whole family on a nice vacation that doesn't involve traveling to Europe all the time just to visit family. Sounds mean but all our vacation money was spent on Euro vacations to visit Eva's parents or Brother's family. It would be nice to take a vacation that was just for us. Maybe a cruise or island vacation.