Every family has an origin story, and ours begins with a night that could have been ordinary—if fate hadn’t had bigger plans for us.

At the time, life had me on a new path. I had just gotten my first job outside of my home in four years, finally taking a bold step toward independence after separating from my first husband. My girlfriend decided this called for a celebration, so off we went to a restaurant, ready to toast to new beginnings.

Enter Drey. He was a server at the restaurant, and let me tell you, he had his own plans for life—plans that definitely didn’t involve settling down. In fact, he was the self-proclaimed “forever bachelor,” perfectly content to keep it that way. But all of that went out the window the moment he saw me.

Watching from the parking lot, Drey didn’t waste a second. Even though he had just clocked out, he was standing at the door, ready to welcome us in as if his life depended on it.

The moment our eyes met, something inside me shifted. I saw our whole life flash before my eyes—a moment so surreal it felt like the scene from a movie. Somehow, I knew then and there that this man was my soulmate.

As for Drey, he didn’t let the opportunity slip by. That same night, we went on our first date—a spontaneous trip to a billiard where we laughed, talked, and felt the world fade away. From that night on, we’ve been inseparable.

But let’s be honest: a love story doesn’t stop at the “happily ever after.” Life has thrown us curveballs—some we never could have imagined. There have been difficult times, moments when the weight of everything felt like too much. But through it all, two things have kept us grounded: our faith and our friendship.

Faith has been our anchor, reminding us to trust in God’s plan even when the path seemed unclear. And our friendship—the way we laugh together, support each other, and show up for one another—has been the glue that holds everything together.

It turns out the “forever bachelor” just needed to meet the right woman to make him forget all about his plans. Fast forward to today, and that instant connection has carried us through life’s adventures—eight kids, homeschooling, a van full of chaos, and a life we wouldn’t trade for anything.

Looking back, we’re still in awe of how God orchestrated that moment so perfectly, even when we didn’t see it coming. Sometimes love doesn’t wait for the “perfect timing.” Sometimes it shows up unannounced, after clocking out, standing at a restaurant door, and changing your life forever.