Twenty years feels like yesterday.

We are celebrating our 20th wedding anniversay on July 1, 2025, and we're asking for your help. We'd planned a trip to Hawaii for our 15th (a bit delayed!), and this was right when COVID swept the world. We cancaled reservation and exchanged plane tickets for credits. As this new milestone draws closer, we dream of combining the luxury of all-inclusive cruising with our love of sailing. The trip we are considering is a once in a lifetime adventure discovering the Aegean Islands.

A bit about us - from Melissa:

We met in eighth grade—technically. Same teachers, oblivious to each other. Freshman year, friends pushed us to attend the Homecoming dance (Hoco in modern terms!). I remember wearing the bridesmaid's dress from my oldest sister's wedding. A bit too much for a Homecoming, but the glamor felt amazing. The dance, unfortunately, was a bust. We left early. Neither of us knew what we were doing! Life moved on. John, a martial artist from the age of 9, continued to practice and teach at a local dojo. I commited myself to Colorguard. We both went through the normal cadence of teenagers in the 90s, and then my birthday came around. I was about to turn 17, and a dear friend told me that John liked me. What?! No way. Yet, we went out. Double date + 1 to see the movie Blue Streak. That was the beginning of a wonderful, sappy, high school sweet-heart story. I'll admit I did try to break up with him Freshman year of college. Long distance was rough! John... said no. It was perhaps the most romantic decline of breaking up possible. Social media wasn't a thing yet, cell phones were subpar, and he drove three hours to stand face to face with me, tell me he refused to break up and that we could do it, and then drove home. That's a keeper, right there. 

We're nerds. John proposed during a tabletop RP game with our friends and family all waiting with baited breath since they knew it was happening, and I was blissfully clueless. As predicted, I feel out of my chair. I am honored to wear a family ring, a cherished heirloom that means the world to me. 

John and I have two, amazing daughters, Corina and Aria. Opposites in all ways, both girls have wonderful hearts and aspirations for greatness. Corina is about to go off to college (not sure when that happened...) and Aria will be starting her Junior year next year. We are immensely proud of their journies and know they will find their place in our world. 

Both John and I are grateful for the life we've built, but it hasn't been easy. We both went to college and studied areas we no longer work in. The endless support of our family has helped us find success, even through a coastal move from CT to GA in hopes of following our dreams. I discovered a company I enjoy working for, and we're still chasing those dreams. The big break will happen. My million--dollar book is right there (once I write it). 

Full circle back to why we're here, asking for your help. As many families, our focus has always been on paying our mortgage, keeping medical bills and debt as low as possible, paying off the car, etc. All expenses have gone up, and we luckily bought our townhouse before the housing prices went sky high. Now, we're asking for yuor help. Any help. Even Starbucks gift cards help. :) Maybe not, but everyone knows I have a coffee addiction. 

We're asking you to help us bridge the gap between our personal budget and what we need for this trip. We only celebrate the 20 year mark once, and we'd truly love to embark on a grand adventure. If you've made it this far, thank you for reading all about us and considering helping us create these amazing, lifelong memories to celebrate our marriage.