HER VERSION: Don & I met in 1999 when both of us worked at The Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
We became friends and a whole group of us shared many lunches and laughter for a wonderful year at the hotel cafГ© and a very memorable golf tournament.
Don was my great encouragement when I was recruited to New England Financial, and we stayed in touch after I left The Broadmoor in 2000 to begin a career in Financial Planning. When my marriage dissolved in 2001, Don was always there for Makayla and me - being my friend, lending a hand, and always remaining calm and steadfast in a sea of uncertainty, upheaval, and chaos – truly my “partner”.
Our relationship and love grew stronger throughout the years, until in 2004 we reached an unfortunate impasse. Unable to agree on our perspectives of marriage, and both having dealt with recent traumatic medical issues, we regrettably parted ways.
My father passed away unexpectedly in 2005, and Makayla and I left Colorado and moved to Michigan to be with my mother.
One day in early spring of 2006, I had a sudden urge to connect with my “partner” – the one that I had lost and still truly loved with all my heart. Without thinking twice or ever considering the consequences, I dialed a telephone number in Colorado that I had never forgotten…………….and…………………. got a busy signal.
Just kidding. Guess who answered the telephone at home on a Friday night? Yes, he was at home on a Friday night. Three hours, many tears, much laughter, and staring at the same beautiful full moon from 1200 miles apart, we had a revelation – what had we done?!
We endured a torturous long-distance relationship over the following year.
In April 2007, Makayla and I visited Colorado Springs and DJ proposed to me on a gorgeous day in the Garden of the Gods.
In July 2007, Makayla and I once again packed our mules and this time made the trek West to return to Colorado, reunite with my partner and create a new family!
HIS VERSION: Yeah, what she said.
2008 Colorado Balloon Classic
“Dreams Start Here”
To all of our family and friends, we are very excited to share this special time with you. Thank you to everyone for your love and support during our journey over the years. Our love story will culminate on Saturday morning, August 30 as we rise into the sky in a hot air balloon to pledge our love to each other, Please join us if you would like to watch our ascension on Saturday morning – it will be early – 6AM! Feel free to wear your jammies and bunny slippers….but be sure to bring your cameras! The mass ascension will be fun to watch as over 100 hot air balloons ascend and float around Colorado Springs.
Our balloon will ascend from the Rose Bowl in Memorial Park. The Rose Bowl is an area of Memorial Park located on the West Side of the Park on Hancock Avenue, south of the Firefighter’s Memorial.
Memorial Park is located east of I-25 on Pikes Peak Avenue between Hancock Ave. and Union Blvd. To get to the Park from the north, from I-25, take exit 142 - Bijou Street. Go east to Cascade Ave. Turn south (right) two blocks to Pikes Peak Ave. Go east (left) 10 blocks to Hancock Ave. If you are coming from the south, take exit 139 - Hwy 24, MLK Bypass, to the Union exit. At Union turn left and proceed to the park.
There is no public parking, spectator RV parking or public overnight parking in Memorial Park during the Balloon Classic, but parking is available on the streets and in surrounding parking lots, particularly along Union Blvd. to the east of the Park. There may be a charge at some of the parking lots.
Our wedding celebration will be Sunday, August 31 at six o’clock in the evening in Woodland Park at The Ute Pass Cultural Center.
The Ute Pass Cultural Center address is 210 E. Midland Ave, Woodland Park, CO 80866 and is located at the corner of Highway 24 and Fairview Ave. Go west on Highway 24 to Woodland Park. At the third traffic light, turn right (Fairview Ave.). The building is on the corner and parking is in the back. Semi-formal attire is requested.
We look forward to celebrating yesterday’s memories, today’s love, and tomorrow's dreams!
Because we combined two households, registering for traditional gifts was unnecessary; therefore, we have decided to register for our honeymoon instead - an Alaskan Cruise! (HE says "COOOOL!!!!!")
There were so many honeymoon cruises to choose from with different honeymoon suites, different honeymoon destinations with honeymoon packages, and all inclusive honeymoon resorts with all inclusive honeymoon packages! We finally chose one and thanks to all who had helped us do research on which destination to choose for our romantic honeymoon getaway! Click on "View Our Registry" at the top of this page if you would like to help us Honeymoon! We are just counting the days until our wedding and anticipating our romantic Carnival Honeymoon Cruise in Alaska! To our friends and family, once again, thank you so much for everything you have done to make this possible! We look forward to seeing you all on our beloved day!
