A family birthday party that none of them will ever forget…

Skip & Takara ~

Takara’s Grandmother planned a big party for both her little sister and boyfriend Skip. Their birthdays are a day apart so it wasn’t weird to be celebrating their birthdays with both of our families. The problem is no one was giving Takara any information about the party but they wanted her to invite people at the last minute. Well, that wasn’t going so well; one thing she can’t stand is last minute stuff. So she refused to invite anyone and she told them if they kept pressing her she wouldn’t show up either. Takara was pretty mad well honestly she was fuming at everyone involved.

Then the night of the party came, and everything was going good! There were at least 30 to 40 people at her grandparents’ house eating, talking and just having a good time. Then everyone was called into the living room to sing Happy Birthday, they sung and all of a sudden people wanted to make speeches. Takara’s sister was first (keep in mind that she is 10) her speech was simple “Thank you all for coming to celebrate my birthday with me and Willie!” Then Takara’s boyfriend was next, the room was quiet, you could hear a pin drop. Willie then says “My speech involves Takara” (her stomach drops) She walks over to him and he begins to speak again. He starts “Takara we have been together for three years, you helped me grow spiritually and made me smile more than I knew was possible and for that I think you deserve the world. But since I can’t give you that I’ll give you the next best thing. Takara will you marry me?” Takara just about died!!! Then she said yes! He then slid the prettiest ring in the whole world on her finger!

Fourth times the charm…

Laura & Brendan - May 29, 2012

While in Cuba, Brendan had been planning to propose the first night at a fondue restaurant. There was a mariachi band playing that he wanted to incorporate into the proposal but because of how busy the restaurant was, he wasn’t able to do it. After leaving the restaurant there was a horse and carriage outside which he thought would be perfect, he was trying to get me to agree to go on it without making it obvious, I was completely clueless and told him maybe another night since I was tired.

Day 2 comes along and Brendan figures he will rent a small boat to go out to the ocean and propose there. He asked the operator how long until the next boat arrived and was told it was too windy and all of the boats were being brought back in for the day. So, now it’s attempt number 4 and Brendan decides he is just going to do it, right then and there. I was playing in the ocean and he called me over to the beach where he had written “Will You Marry Me” in the sand. Right before I saw it, the tide came in and washed it away. I asked what it said, as I could barely read it, Brendan’s face was priceless as he panicked and said “it says marry me!” I jumped in his arms and said yes!! Poor guy tried so hard…

Hockey lovin’…

Susan & Mike - March 1, 2013

Mike and I started to hang out while watching the hockey playoffs in 2008 so hockey became “our thing”. Our first home has a sports room theme for his beloved Flames and my beloved Red Wings… and yes, the walls are painted red!

During a recent trip to Toronto, we planned a day to spend at the Hockey Hall of Fame as neither of us had even visited there on our separate trips to Toronto. Our last stop during the visit was to have pictures taken in front of the cup…

Mike and I got one…

Then Mike alone…

Then me alone…

Then Mike said he wanted one more and told the photographer it was a special one, he got down on one knee and proposed! I was shocked! I have a way of finding out every surprise Mike tried to plan… This one I had no idea!

It was the best Mike and Susan proposal :-)

A love abroad…

Catherine & Gcinisizwe - June 28, 2012

One day while in South Africa I was visiting a colleague, feeling bored I decided to go outside for some fresh air. I noticed a man working in the garden next door so I thought I would go over and say hello. As I introduced myself to him I realized that he was very thin and he looked very tired. I asked if he was hungry and he said yes. He assumed that I would give him food and walk away but in fact I was making lunch for us to share. As we sat together under a tree I couldn’t help but feel immediately drawn to him, as he told me about his life I felt as though I was reading a book that I could not put down. When we look back to that moment we both remember feeling relief and shock, as if we had been searching for each other for a thousands years and finally, all of a sudden we found each other.

After viewing the terrible living conditions that he lived in we decided to band together and start a humanitarian aid organization to lift his community from poverty. Although we immediately fell in love with one another we took things slow due to our vast cultural and life experience differences. Despite that the bond we shared was far greater than any other couple I know.

Shortly after I had to return to my home in Canada, as my fingers slipped out of his hands at the airport my heart shattered, not knowing when I would see him again. Despite our distance our love grew stronger over the year that we were apart.

Two and a half years after our first chance encounter we found ourselves sitting amongst the flowers in a park, we were so happy. Even though we have very little, and even though our challenges as a couple will be far greater than many others, I remember looking at him knowing that there is no way that I can possibly be happier than I was that day. On that beautiful sunny day, with the South African wind blowing a warm breeze on us as we sat under the sun, Gcinisizwe took me by the hands and told me that his entire life he struggled and most times he had no hope until the day that I walked into his life. Together we formed a partnership which not only transformed our lives but has lifted the spirits of an entire community who for the first time has witnessed with their own eyes a glimpse of an end to Apartheid. Three years after we first met I am still the happiest woman that I know, and not only do I get to spend the rest of my life being loved by a man who has proven that he can beat any obstacle with a smile, but we now work together to end chronic poverty in multiple South African communities. Fate brought us together, but our love for one another and our community is what will keep our fire burning forever.

On June 28 2010 we were legally married in South Africa but due to our humanitarian work and chronic poverty we were not able to afford to have a wedding, something that is very important to both of us, and our families.