Our Timeline

Summer 1993 - First met at a homeschooling pool party

Fall Semester 2002 - Carpooled to community college

Spring Semester 2004 - Carpooled to community college again

February 1, 2004 - Dan asked me out

February 8, 2004 - Our first date: World Marriage Day Mass, seeing "Miracle" in theaters, dinner at Chi-Chi's with our young adult group

Summer/Fall 2004 - Discussed marriage, knew we would be getting engaged soon

February 7, 2005 - Exactly 365 days after our first date (2004 being a leap year), Dan proposed. Planned on being married June 8, 2007

February, 2006 - Dan blows out his knee (shatters his ACL) and requires surgery and time off of work. This postpones the wedding.

Fall Semester 2006 - I find out that I'm missing a core class required for graduation, I have to go back an extra semester in order to finish. This postpones the wedding. Again.

Fall Semester 2007 - I get an internship in my field.

December 2007 - I finally graduate, there is much rejoicing.

January 2008 - I get hired by the company I interned with, my first job out of college is in my field. I am among only 20% of college grads in this respect.

February 8, 2008 - We officially set the wedding date with the church: August 8, 2008 (08/08/08), exactly six months away.

August 8, 2008 - We finally get married, there is much rejoicing! We honeymoon for almost two weeks in Tampa and on a cruise in the Caribbean.

March 25, 2009 - I leave the job I've had since graduation in my field, Dan is incredibly supportive. I apply for another job and work at my old restaurant in the meantime.

Summer 2009 - I get a better job and keep the restaurant job on the side. We are both working two jobs and discuss starting a family. Decide to not try and not prevent.

October 2009 - Officially decide to start trying for a baby.

August 2010 - Dan loses one of his jobs (the important one with benefits), we decide not to let this stop us from trying for a baby.

Late August/Early September 2010 - I hear about, interview for, and am offered a job at a school. Job is salary with benefits and remotely related to what I got my degree in, I jump at the chance.

Late September 2010 - Positive pregnancy test! We are ecstatic and worried at the same time. Dan is able to pick up extra hours at his other job while continuing to hunt for a new one. Baby due end of May 2011.

December 2010 - Begin house hunting. Find a house we love, in our price range, and have it inspected.

January 2011 - Inspector finds $40K worth of repairs that NEED to be made to the house, we pass on the house and continue looking. Dan hears back about a job, but the process is long, he starts it because the job will be good.

February 2011 - Housing options in our price range are getting skimpy, we broaden our search to slightly smaller houses in order to find something and be settled in before the baby comes. We find an adorable brick house, about the size of our current apartment, with a nice big yard and room to expand. We put in an offer and have it inspected. Inspection showed only $2,500 worth of repairs to be made.

March 2011 - Our bid is accepted and we sign the papers. The house is officially ours! We decide to take the month of March to repaint and slowly move every thing in.

April 2011 - Finally, completely moved into the house. Found out from school officials that enrollment is too low for fall to keep the school open. Class of 2011 is the final class to graduate.


May 2011 - Baby is born 8 days early, we are overjoyed!


Summer 2011 - Dan still working his part time job, I'm still receiving paychecks from school because I chose the 12-month-payment option.

August 2011 - I go back to working my old job part time, enough to pay the bills. Dan is still being processed about the possible new job.

November 2011 - Baby is 6 months old already! We finally get a time frame that Dan might be working: they're not officially hiring until January. The processing can continue, we're happy.