We’ve got a Cardinals fan and a Huskers fan getting ready to celebrate their marriage with us at Fresh Air Farm this Saturday. Mel, who is from St. Louis, Missouri, and Jimmy, who is from Hastings, Nebraska, met in the kitchen of a mutual friend’s house back in 2014. They were attending an annual Christmas open house and once they introduced themselves, their conversation took off right next to their friend’s stove. Jimmy was feeling pretty good that night when he left and he knew immediately that he had to see Mel again! August 15th, 2014 was the start of their beautiful relationship that led to this very moment. They picked a great place, Domo Sushi in Brookside, to have their first date. Later on, things took an odd turn though. As Jimmy was walking Mel back to her house afterwards, they said that they witnessed a woman get thrown from her motorized wheelchair as she ran over a pothole. The two of them, and a few others who saw it happen, helped her back into her wheelchair and gathered her belongings. Well, they won’t ever forget that one now!
Jimmy said their relationship may have started slow but it finished strong. But, really, it’s only just beginning. Now, after 1 year and 4 months, they are taking the next step! The proposal, though, was perfect. This lovely couple has a special tree at Loose Park that they call The Giving Tree. They love to sit under it on summer afternoons and drink Dr. Pepper from Quicktrip. There have been several meaningful conversations and so many wonderful memories under the tree which has made this particular spot so special to them both. Because of that, Jimmy knew he wanted to propose there since the tree has and will always remind them of happy times in Kansas City and, more importantly, he knew he would be able to take their future children to that spot someday. So…on December 27th, 2015, Jimmy took Mel to Sunday Mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Help followed by brunch at Gram and Dun, which is Mel’s favorite brunch spot in KC, to celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Jimmy then told Mel that he had “one more Christmas gift” to give her but he wanted to give it to her at Loose Park. When they arrived at the tree on that very cold and windy winter afternoon, there was a bouquet of a dozen red roses to mark the spot. Jimmy then got down on one knee and as they say…the rest is history!
Mel is a wedding and lifestyle photographer and Jimmy is a project manager at Cerner. Jimmy’s favorite thing about Mel is that, “She gets me to dance”. Mel said that Jimmy makes her want to be a better person. This sweet and so-in-love duo is looking forward to a marriage focused on, “growing closer to Christ, being goofballs together, and pinching each other’s butts more”. Yepp…you read that last one right hehe! They can’t wait to “dance outside with the stars above and our friends and family around us and above us in heaven”. They both agreed on their first dance song, which will be “Laundry Room” by The Avett Brothers. “It’s about young love while honoring seasoned relationships” Mel said. They actually got to see it performed live last summer at Red Rocks Amphitheater! As for their honeymoon plans, Jimmy has planned all of the details and Mel only knows the destination, which is Hawaii!!
“Road trippin’ through life with my best friend. Driving towards Christ with a back seat full of kiddos. Making memories one stop at a time.” That is their happily ever after and I’m lovin it!
