We would like to start with the fact that we both have waited a long time... like a very long time to meet the right person. We both wanted someone with faith and substance, yet a little crazy.

Julie: I think I'm crazier, but he might disagree. We met online and emailed back and forth but then I got covid and stopped messaging for a while. When I felt better, I started again, and he told me that he thought I was ghosting him and pleasantly surprised when I messaged him. He was the one that asked to meet in person. I was so happy that he was willing to travel all the way to me and take me out on a proper date. He's just that kind of guy. He got there 1st and I pretended to be my cool weird self, but when he stood up and turned to greet me, I was like, umm so this handsome man is my date, uhh yesss! We ate and talked for 5 hours... yep that long.

The thing I remember the most from that date isn't everything we talked about but a feeling. It felt right. On my short drive home, I said out loud to myself, "I'm going to marry that man." then was like 'Julie, that's crazy you barely know him.” But I knew.

Vic: As Julie said, we met online, and chatted for a while there. And when she got COVID and stopped responding (for a whopping 2 days) I did think she was ghosting me. When she came back and started feeling better I asked if she wanted to talk on the phone. Once I got her on the phone, the first thing I remember when she answered was thinking 'Wow, she has such a pretty voice. I can't wait to hear her sing." and then I sat in the cold garage in late February and talked on the phone for a while loving every minute of it.

By the end of that call we had arrangements to meet in Lansing for our first date. Julie wore a very cute black dress and we talked for hours, until the restaurant was about to close and most everyone else was already gone. My favorite of our earlier dates was our third date. We went glow-golfing at Zap Zone and Julie challenged me to a bet on who would win. When I accepted, she asked me what I wanted if I won, I said, "A kiss." and asked her what she wanted if she won, but she wouldn't tell me (cause she's a brat :D). Turns out I got hustled and Julie trounced me at glow-golf, and then won a free game of golf to-boot. Then she finally told me what she wanted, now that she had won... it was multiple kisses. So, I really think I won in the end. I knew by the end of that date how special she was.

Julie: I'm sentimental and wrote down a lot of our dates, when I met his parents, when we met friends, etc. especially because I forget, but there are two things I will never forget. One is that my mom got to know him and she got to meet his parents. Second my lovely heroic Vic was with me as I held my mom's hand as she passed. He spent long hours with me on the night shift with her. He held me up. He is truly one of a kind, heart of gold, man of God. Boy am I lucky.

Vic: But I'm luckier, because Julie makes me a better person.

Registry