Melissa & Kyle

November 9, 2024 • Grapevine, TX

Melissa & Kyle

November 9, 2024 • Grapevine, TX

Our Story

Our first hello - thanks Hinge! We met at Grounds and Gold, Melissa’s favorite local Arlington coffee shop. We connected on our love of reading and outdoor adventures and epic travel and faith and unusual lattes. Conspicuously, no talk of racket sports…

December 27, 2023

Our first hello - thanks Hinge! We met at Grounds and Gold, Melissa’s favorite local Arlington coffee shop. We connected on our love of reading and outdoor adventures and epic travel and faith and unusual lattes. Conspicuously, no talk of racket sports…
We traded resolutions for the new year. Early signs we are from the same optimistic mind set: we make lists,  set goals and focus on learning and growth! Kyle’s last line was the best - immediate, to the point and promptly fulfilled.  Still no mention of rackets or paddles…

January 05, 2024

We traded resolutions for the new year. Early signs we are from the same optimistic mind set: we make lists, set goals and focus on learning and growth! Kyle’s last line was the best - immediate, to the point and promptly fulfilled. Still no mention of rackets or paddles…
Book club formed! Thanks authors John and Julie Gottman. This book was a fun way to learn about each other. Our book club picks progress as we get to know each other.

February 03, 2024

Book club formed! Thanks authors John and Julie Gottman. This book was a fun way to learn about each other. Our book club picks progress as we get to know each other.
Our first selfie, notable because it was, er, our first selfie. Also, Melissa isn't wearing a hat, not even an airplane friendly one. Also notable: Kyle was always willing to drive across Dallas (it’s early! It’s traffic-y!) for an early morning coffee book club before Melissa climbed on an airplane. Many business trips, multiple dates for pre-airport coffee, always smiley selfies.

February 05, 2024

Our first selfie, notable because it was, er, our first selfie. Also, Melissa isn't wearing a hat, not even an airplane friendly one. Also notable: Kyle was always willing to drive across Dallas (it’s early! It’s traffic-y!) for an early morning coffee book club before Melissa climbed on an airplane. Many business trips, multiple dates for pre-airport coffee, always smiley selfies.
Boots! Kyle lived some thirty years in TX with no boots (how is that possible?). Luckily, Melissa came along and saved him from a future of line dancing in sneakers. A productive boot shopping day; Kyle even snuck to the register to gift Melissa with her pair.

February 10, 2024

Boots! Kyle lived some thirty years in TX with no boots (how is that possible?). Luckily, Melissa came along and saved him from a future of line dancing in sneakers. A productive boot shopping day; Kyle even snuck to the register to gift Melissa with her pair.
Approval of certain family members crucial to the new couple. Key canine gave her paw of support for Kyle on a hike at Dinosaur Valley State Park, even with no sightings of the beloved tennis ball. Our first hike had an elevation of a whooping 800 ft…

February 19, 2024

Approval of certain family members crucial to the new couple. Key canine gave her paw of support for Kyle on a hike at Dinosaur Valley State Park, even with no sightings of the beloved tennis ball. Our first hike had an elevation of a whooping 800 ft…
About time! We dusted off our rackets, hissed open a new can of balls and wow! We both play tennis! And paddle sports! And ride bikes! So much to talk about and do together!

March 23, 2024

About time! We dusted off our rackets, hissed open a new can of balls and wow! We both play tennis! And paddle sports! And ride bikes! So much to talk about and do together!
Bluebonnet Super Bloom! The Texas Hill Country in the springtime - first of many times we get to say “This is the prettiest place in the world.” Elevation 500 ft.

April 06, 2024

Bluebonnet Super Bloom! The Texas Hill Country in the springtime - first of many times we get to say “This is the prettiest place in the world.” Elevation 500 ft.
Together, Kyle and Melissa discover the breakfast salad. What’s not to like? Shockingly, breakfast salad is not a popular choice among, well, most people. One more way the puzzle keeps fitting together.

May 25, 2024

Together, Kyle and Melissa discover the breakfast salad. What’s not to like? Shockingly, breakfast salad is not a popular choice among, well, most people. One more way the puzzle keeps fitting together.
Pickleball makes its first appearance along with a Berlin family mini reunion. All still standing and smiling after an epic round of dills and dinks.

June 15, 2024

Pickleball makes its first appearance along with a Berlin family mini reunion. All still standing and smiling after an epic round of dills and dinks.
Kyle plants what feels like a hundred (but is actually half a dozen) okra plants in his backyard because Melissa loves them, especially eating okra in quantities by the dozen. You can never have too much okra.

June 19, 2024

Kyle plants what feels like a hundred (but is actually half a dozen) okra plants in his backyard because Melissa loves them, especially eating okra in quantities by the dozen. You can never have too much okra.
Book club going strong! Kyle introduced Melissa to a new author (Timothy Keller), who became a shared favorite. Later, searching for a different title at Half Price Books, Melissa happened to pick up two copies of Keller's book on marriage. It was meant to be!

July 06, 2024

Book club going strong! Kyle introduced Melissa to a new author (Timothy Keller), who became a shared favorite. Later, searching for a different title at Half Price Books, Melissa happened to pick up two copies of Keller's book on marriage. It was meant to be!

Poor Sadie and Kyle the Hero

Picture of Poor Sadie and Kyle the Hero

While the rest of the family was out of town, Sadie started acting funny and needed to be rescued from the dog sitter. Enter Kyle the Hero! It quickly became obvious Sadie had not come home alone. A thousand close companions i.e., an epic flea infestation, tagged along on her for the ride. It happened so fast - Sadie's flea count went from a few to a few thousand in two days! It was a flea circus (ba da bing).


Kyle gamely brought Flea Dog into his house and started treatment. Melissa arrived back in town to help. Many hours, a half dozen full fur body scrubs, numerous bathtub escape attempts, two serious backaches and one unhappy dog later, Kyle and Melissa had a tiny cup filled with hundreds of flea carcasses. Sadie was a relieved pooch and bounced back pretty much immediately.


The incident sealed the deal on what was already known, which was one, Kyle is a good guy and two, nothing fazes him, not even a flea-infested Drama Dog in his bathtub.

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Kyle experienced the wonderful family he is joining with a family vacation to the Rocky Mountain National Park. In between stunning hikes and amazing family cooks jostling for grill space we battled it out on the game table and the ping pong table (more paddle sports!). Pleased to report no permanent hearing loss. Elevation 8,000 ft plus.

July 23, 2024

Kyle experienced the wonderful family he is joining with a family vacation to the Rocky Mountain National Park. In between stunning hikes and amazing family cooks jostling for grill space we battled it out on the game table and the ping pong table (more paddle sports!). Pleased to report no permanent hearing loss. Elevation 8,000 ft plus.
Moose selfie at 10,000 ft. Yes, the small brown blob in the background counts as a moose selfie. Moose aren’t known for selfies or pickleball thus we won’t mention paddle sports in this paragraph. Oh, oops.

July 23, 2024

Moose selfie at 10,000 ft. Yes, the small brown blob in the background counts as a moose selfie. Moose aren’t known for selfies or pickleball thus we won’t mention paddle sports in this paragraph. Oh, oops.
Here is where the elevation comes to a pinnacle (pun intended). Milner Pass Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park. Starting elevation at the trailhead: 10,579 ft and the trail climbs climbs climbs from there. Timberline at about 11,000 ft. Marmot colonies soon to follow. Keep climbing to….13,000 ft! Sheep and elk and a lake and a grand vista - perfect for an engagement!

July 27, 2024

Here is where the elevation comes to a pinnacle (pun intended). Milner Pass Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park. Starting elevation at the trailhead: 10,579 ft and the trail climbs climbs climbs from there. Timberline at about 11,000 ft. Marmot colonies soon to follow. Keep climbing to….13,000 ft! Sheep and elk and a lake and a grand vista - perfect for an engagement!

On top of the world!

While our time together has been short, it's been incredibly rich and blessed. We're still writing our next steps but look forward to a plenty of book club, breakfast salad, tennis, pickleball, coffee dates, high and low elevation hikes, and the occasional great party to share it all with our friends and family.

Married!

Picture of Married!

We got married at the courthouse with close family on Friday September 27 at 3:47 PM. It was everything we hoped for!

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