I met Tammy in October of 2007 while (believe it or not) playing a computer video game called World of Warcraft. Yup, you read that right... World of Warcraft (hehehe). Not typically the kind of game I was at all familiar with or enjoyed playing at the time, but my brother-in-law (Mark) and a REALTOR® friend I know by the name of Jen prodded me to check it out for fun. So I did... The game allows players to chat with other players from around the world online and then work together to accomplish various game quests. I had been playing for a couple weeks with some folks I met in the game from Australia, Shaz and Ben, and this one particular night they had a guest player along; a girl (also from Australia) who called herself "Bluedove" in the game. I, of course, now know her as my beautiful bride, Tammy.

Tammy and I had fun questing together in the game and a friendship started to develop as we chatted about various things over the next few weeks. Eventually we started writing e-mails to each other too and then phone calls and eventually shared pics and finally started conversing via Webcam. I joked with my then roommate and close friend, Matt, that this game was so cool you could even have a virtual girlfriend in it... I was only partially kidding though... Tammy had already become far more than merely someone I spent time playing a game with on occasion. Over the next year Tammy would become my best friend and the love bug sunk its teeth in... We talked every day and night and I ran up a healthy phone bill in the process. I would get so tired during the day because the time difference required me to stay up a fair portion of the early morning hours to be able to talk with her.

It was a little odd, to be honest; the concept of falling in love with someone I'd met in a crazy video game and had only conversed with through the Internet, but something inside told me this was right and I began to feel that there was something incredibly special about this woman. Truly she was unlike anyone I'd ever met before. One night as we were chatting she surprised me by telling me that she had decided she wanted to use all her earned vacation leave (and savings) to fly to America and meet me in person! I was blown away. This was a major decision on her part; One that involved a lot of money and a little bit of risk (considering all the weird stories you hear about people meeting other people they initially met online). I mean, for all she knew I could have been some 37 year old dude who sits behind a computer screen all day..... Oh wait... I was. ;) She was serious though and I realized I was as well, so we began to look forward to October of 2008 when she would arrive.

Our relationship grew and we fell more in love with each other over each passing day. I never imagined I'd meet someone that I could feel so comfortable with, laugh so hard with, care so much about, and who thrilled my heart so much. As a person of faith in God, even before I started to realize that I really was falling in love with Tammy, I began praying for her - every day - and, who knows, maybe that's what knitted my heart even closer. The more I talked to the Lord about her, the more I knew His hand was in all this.

Fast forward nearly 12 months, Tammy boarded her plane in Sydney, Australia and made the 17 hour flight across the ocean to come and visit me for 2 months. I'll never forget how beautiful she looked when she got off the plane and I saw her riding up the escalator to me (and she didn't even recognize me at first -- hehe... She, of course, denies this detail but we laugh about it). The cumulating of an entire year of waiting for this moment made my heart feel as though it were exploding inside my chest. She was more lovely than I ever imagined. We had the time of our lives together over the passing weeks ahead and I cherished every moment of each day I was with her.

It was here in America that Tammy got to see her first snowfall. And it was in Leavenworth, WA (a small Bavarian-themed village in the Cascade mountains) on December 18th, 2008, in the falling snow, that I got down on my knee under a beautifully-lit tree in the town square, while Christmas bells rang in the background, and I asked Tammy to marry me. Of course it took me three tries to ask her because she didn't realize I was going to ask right then and she continued to throw snowballs in my face each time I went for my knee. When I finally got the words out, she screamed at the top of her lungs and said, "YES!" She threw both arms around me and kissed me and we lost our balance and fell over in the snow laughing. It was the best night of my life. I had finally found the love of my life and she said, "YES!"

It was under the white-lighted tree on the right that I asked Tammy to marry me.

As a little side-note here (if you don't mind), I think that if there is any encouragement I could give at this stage to other people who may be pursuing a spouse; Take it from a guy who waited 37 years to do it right... There is much good to be said for waiting. I've watched so many friends and acquaintances around me over the years make their mistakes and pay the price for them and I've tried to gather wisdom from watching their example. Especially to younger people who are eager to find that special someone, don't get too anxious in your searching and please don't settle for emotional quick fix relationships or sexual entanglements that only last a short time but can leave a lifetime of emotional pain...

By all means, wait for the one God is preparing you for and diligently work on your own life rather than simply seeking someone you hope can make you feel loved. Years ago, when I was a teenager, I used hope that there was someone out there that God made especially just for me... I suppose I hoped one day she would just float right out of heaven into my view (hehehe)... Eventually it hit me what a selfish concept that really was; to think that God might actually bring someone into existence just for my own benefit and pleasure. How freeing to have that thinking removed so that I don't place any such false expectation on my bride. I now pray, simply, that God would make me the man He wants me to be and to teach me to love her the way she needs to be loved so that I never take for granted this blessing in life to be able to share it with someone so special and whom I know God loves equally. No fairytale presumptions here. I know marriage will be as much hard work as it will be an exciting adventure and I just hope I am heading in with the right perspective.

My encouragement is that you (those of you considering marriage) consider asking God for His guidence and strength; Trusting that He knows what you have need of (as well as what you want) better than you do yourself. And if you've already made mistakes, know that God's love is able to forgive, restore and overcome them all and still make you ready for something more wonderful than you ever thought possible. I love what Jesus said, "You'll be happier if you give, than if you receive." (Acts 20:35) I hope I can always remember to live by that wonderful ideal.

In a world where waiting for marriage is neither common nor popular, I am happy to say that both Tammy remained virgins until our big day and it really is cool to look forward to entering marriage without any past baggage in that department too. After finally meeting Tammy and discovering what a wonderful, beautiful person she is, I can tell you that the wait was worth it all! And, just as my own experience began with an unexpected meeting, don't be surprised if the one for you comes in a way completely unexpected. I was not anxiously seeking a wife when I met Tammy. In fact, I had pretty much laid that quest down for the time being. It seemed that at the moment I was finally content to not be anxious about the future as it concerned finding a spouse (or even a girlfriend), that's when the door opened up without even trying. I know that God's hand will guide our path and He will always remain faithful through every circumstance of life. Just look at how He has blessed us! And, more than anything, I believe with all my heart that Tammy and I will have a strong, happy marriage that lasts through the years and will weather all of life's storms.

Ok... sermon over (hehehe). See... you should have read the short version instead. ;)

The date was set and we "tied the knott" in New South Wales, Australia on September 19th, 2009. We were united by a wonderful civil celebrant by the name of Rhonda on the military base overlooking Captain's Beach (one of the most beautiful beaches in the world). The day was perfect; the sun shinning, birds singing, kangaroos pooping in the field nearby (hehe). There are lots of fantastic pictures from the event and we invite you to see all them at our official picture page (see below).

We still have a few months of jumping through the immigration hoops before Tammy will be able to come home to stay in the U.S. I may plan another short trip to Australia mid-year (2010) since it looks like it could yet be awhile before all our paperwork is approved. Because we are in process, waiting for Tammy's visa, she cannot enter the U.S. during this period, but I can still visit there. Once Tammy is finally home with me, my mom and sister are planning to throw a reception so that all of our American friends who weren't able to make the trek to Australia for our big day will be able to come and still celebrate with us. If any of you would like to help ease the financial burden for this happy event, we would appreciate your kindness so much. You can CLICK HERE to gift any amount you like. But even if you can't, send us a comment or shoot up a little prayer for us and that would be awesome!

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