This really is an amazing story. Shannon and I first met through her work with the New Hampshire Department of Corrections. She has been instrumental in bringing the Jessie Lewis Choose Love Movement into the NHDOC. It was September 19, 2023, a Wednesday, that ended up being a quick meeting since she and Scarlett Lewis presented for the NH Dept of Safety/NH State Police, and several of us from the NH National Guard. I remember that she was such a gentle soul and very calming in her presentation style, but this was only a professional introduction for us. We would meet again for a tour of the men’s facility of the NHDOC, and attend the graduation ceremony for the Choose Love Movement where Shannon spoke again a few weeks later. Still moved by her ability to hold the audience, it was still a professional relationship at this point.
Our start actually begins with our next meeting. On Thursday, November 16th, Shannon and I agreed to meet at the prison where she would be facilitating a ‘feedback’ session with several of the men that led the program in its inaugural run there. The program had seen great success from the very beginning. She invited me to come with her so that I could get a better understanding of the content, as well as listen to the men and participate in this round-table discussion. I was interested in bringing the Choose Love program into the Federal Prison system. We met in the lobby and passed through the screening process. We were then ushered into a classroom where the participants from the program and numerous staff were present to discuss the success and give Shannon critical input going forward. The discussion was excellent and moved into a deeper realm quickly. The men were sharing, and the discussion was moving, to say the least. Shannon and I were seated directly next to each other with about a foot of space between us. She was to my right and we were both sitting in sturdy chairs. As the discussion moved around the room between the inmates and the staff, and then us, I remember looking over my shoulder at Shannon. At that same moment, she looked over at me. I have never experienced anything like this before or since, but the moment our eyes met, it felt like something/someone kicked my chair. I felt a physical movement from the floor up! I didn’t give any indication as to what happened and merely allowed our gaze to naturally fall back to the group. We made eye contact one more time, and it was just as impactful. Neither of us said a word at that moment and as we left the institution, we said our cordial goodbyes. I do remember that we hugged there in the parking lot, but it was really a respectful, and professional hug.
We maintained limited contact, but always just professional in nature. Until Tuesday, December 19. I was minding my own, fooling around on Facebook, and I happened to press the ‘wow’ emoji on one of Shannon’s posts, a wonderful quote she’d shared. I immediately received a Messenger message from her. This started a wonderful dialogue that Tuesday evening that culminated in her letting me know that she would be available the weekend before Christmas, and that if I didn’t have plans, maybe she and I could get together, as she knew I was in NH- away from my family and friends. I could NOT believe it. This beautiful person wanted to spend time with me! I immediately went to her Facebook profile and began going through all her pictures. I was in shock as I looked at this beautiful woman and thought about spending time with her! Of course, I wasted little time in formally asking her out for dinner. As it turns out, we decided to go out to eat on Christmas-Eve Eve, or Saturday, December 23. We went to a nice little Chinese restaurant just north of Concord. After dinner, as the snow fell softly all around, we talked about so many things. It was magical. To cap off the evening, just before I took her back home, we stopped at one of her favorite spots for a picture. A beautiful walking bridge near her house that is covered in lights. We took a picture of us in a full embrace as it snowed. A sweet hug that was the beginning of our forever.

I finally proposed to Shannon on Friday, May 31, 2024. She said YES! We are set to celebrate our wedding ceremony on Saturday, July 5, 2025. We are both filled with gratitude that God has orchestrated His wonderful plan and despite the journey it took to get us here, we are both deeply blessed and totally in love with one another. We are both thankful for the love and support that we have received from so many the moment our relationship came to light. And in the light is where we will forever be with each other.