My Story

Many letters, emails, and a long-distance relationship later, I followed my heart to a secluded beach on Hawaii, where I married my spunky and slightly eccentric pen pal. Yes, we eloped to Hawai'i!

We were young (19), but sure of ourselves and our love. 

Together we made it through college, grew as people–always sustained and inspired by another, built a good life, and have been on many adventures. 

I didn't know it then, but the most life-changing day of my life was when I received a letter in the mail with a boy's name and address: my future pen pal and husband. Steven lived in Los Angeles. I in Berlin, Germany. We were both 15.

Many letters, emails, and a long-distance relationship later, I followed my heart to a secluded beach on Hawaii, where I married my spunky and slightly eccentric pen pal. Yes, we eloped to Hawaii! We were young (19), but sure of ourselves and our love. 

Together we made it through college, grew as people–always sustained and inspired by another, built a good life, and have been on many adventures. Six years into our life as a married couple, our baby daughter, Evelyn, arrived and made us a family. The three of us call Maui home.

Six years into our life as a married couple, our baby daughter, Evelyn, arrived and made us a family. The three of us call Maui home.

The most life-changing day of my life was when I received a letter in the mail with a boy's name and address: my future pen pal and husband. Steven lived in Los Angeles. I in Berlin, Germany. We were both 15.