Team O'Hare: July 2012

I went on a cruise with one of my best friends, Brittany, back in September of 2003. I had just turned 21, I was a live in nanny for the most wonderful family, and I was high on life. I never imagined that three days on a cruise would change the path of my life, let alone find my husband. I have recounted our meeting so many times. Kevin and I saw it all very differently. The first time I remember Kevin, we were in a lounge and Brittany and I were singing karaoke in our perfectly picked out cocktail attire. There is one thing for sure when Brittany and I get together...we ALWAYS have a memorable time. She is SO MUCH FUN, and we make friends with everyone. Kevin settled in next to me, and about 4 guys tried to sit next to her. I joke to him all the time that I was his second choice...you would agree if you saw stunning my friend Brittany always looks. The first thing Kevin said to me was "Were you lip syncing?" Of course everything starts and ends with a joke with Kevin. I though Kevin was very attractive but of course thought...we are just having fun. Everyone has fun on a cruise. A relationship with this man never crossed my mind once. But Kevin insisted that he "really liked me" and that "there was something different about me." I laughed at him and ate pizza like it was popcorn and danced like crazy. He gave me his business card, and we went our separate ways. The very second I got home I emailed him. We had an email relationship for six months until he came out to Seattle on a business trip. I was in the midst of moving into my very first apartment so I was a little slow on emailing him back. Since we did not talk on the phone he thought that I was not interested in meeting him again. So luckily I redeemed myself. I picked out my outfit carefully. A fuscia pink 3/4 length sleeve shirt that barely touched the top of my denim blue jeans with a small black high heel shoe. I'm sure it was hideous now that I think about it, but we met at his hotel in Seattle. We had a great "first" date that ended in a real first kiss which was romantically set next in the beautiful city of Seattle. He extended his trip, and I spent the rest of the weekend with him. We talked on the phone about 3 or more hours a day, and on July 5, 2004 was when we FINALLY decided to make our status official. We were boyfriend and girlfriend but separated by 3,000 miles. Every 2 months we would see each other. I may have paid once for my plane ticket. Kevin was such a gentlemen and providing everything for me (nothing has changed). May 2005 changed everything. Brittany, Barb and I were going to have a CRAZY girls weekend in Seattle. We went with Barbara to see Trent off at the airport (her now fiance), and we were her moral support. Sitting in the airport I was looking for a bar of course, and I saw this man walking toward us. He had on pleated khaki pants and a tucked in yellow and blue polo shirt. He looked identical to Kevin! He walked up to me and said "Can anyone tell me how to get to Charlotte". Then he wrapped me up in his arms and kissed me. He whisked me away, and my friends waved goodbye. Outside was a very large white stretch limo and a bottle of wine. I was shaking. I had no idea what was going on. I was supposed to run my first marathon that weekend and long story short, I never did finish my training so I thought maybe he had planned on surprising me and watching me run my first marathon. He said we were going to lunch, but had to make a pit stop. Once the limo stopped, he practically pushed me out of my seat. Then he got down on one knee and proposed to me where we had our first kiss. Since Kevin was the only man who ever really cared about me, listened to me and loved every flaw I had to offer, I could not picture any one person to be with for the rest of my life. He was/is perfect and so much better than me. I knew God was looking out for me when I somehow made this man fall in love with little old me. We had lunch at the Space Needle, and after my $50 burger and fries we set out back to Olympia. I called Barb and Brittany first and couldn't believe they had a hand in my surprise engagement. Then I called my family, Kim and my best friends. The entire ride I talked on the phone. My surprises did not end there. As I go to Kim's to show her my ring, all of my friends/family were there for a surprise engagement party. It was such a perfect day. A month after all the excitement Kevin and I left everything I ever knew behind, and I set out to make a new life 3,000 miles away. Much had happened between the time I moved here until a year later when we got married. It is very hard to make friends, and I was desperate for them. I worked at a bank part-time, Kevin lost his job, we moved into our first home all in a matter of months and not particularly in that order. July 2, 2006 came quickly and on an island, in a middle of a lake we said our vows with 60 of our friends and family at our sides. Six years ago we were married.

In the last six years we have visited four different countries, adopted the most annoying cat, had two unbelievable children, lost two amazing grandmother's, sold and bought a home, lost a job and throughout all our up's and down's I am closer to Kevin than I have ever been to anyone. I sometimes think he knows me better than me. He makes me laugh everyday, he is in control of every situation and the voice of reason, he provides for us, and he is really a father that most would envy, and he loves me. No one is perfect, but Kevin is perfect for me, and I am so happy we have another year to celebrate. It is really something to be proud of. Kevin said to me on our last anniversary "This is not like a birthday, it is an accomplishment. It takes two to make a relationship and marriage to work. Every year is not guaranteed, and we have something to celebrate." I love this man. I love you Kevin O'Hare.

Here are some random pictures leading up to the wedding that I would like to share!