In this premiere episode, we share our story from a childhood soccer crush to a three-decade marriage built on commitment, resilience, and humor.

We open up about early struggles (balancing work, grad school, and finances), the moments that tested our relationship, and the mindset shifts that helped us build something lasting. The conversation sets the foundation for the Penned in Ink series: real stories, honest lessons, and a look at why commitment still matters in a world that often questions it.

💬 Key themes:

• How young love evolves into a lifelong partnership
• What “commitment” really means when life gets hard
• Finding purpose in your relationship story
• How humor, a belief in each other, and shared goals help couples last

🎧 Listen for:

• Candid moments about marriage in your 20s
• Why we started Penned in Ink
• An inspiring reminder that love stories worth keeping are written one intentional choice at a time.

Chapters

00:00 – Episode teaser

00:22 – Welcome to Penned in Ink

00:50 – The story of how we met

04:30 – Inked Moments: Early dating memories

09:16 – Early marriage struggles: balancing grad school, money, and family

21:19 – His Perspective, Her Perspective: Initial attraction

10:50 – Learning to choose commitment every day

32:27 – Why we started Penned in Ink

46:49 – Pen to Paper: Visualizing what you want in a partner

49:21 – Closing thoughts