I will never forget the call where I knew my brother had found the one. Let me first start with a little back history:

My brother and I grew up in a not so stable, yet very loving, home. Our mother suffered from bipolar disorder, which it turn led to many not so healthy relationships. So many of our beliefs stem from what we witness as children. It's really freaking difficult to change thoughts instilled in us at such a young age. I'm not sure if that is the reason Ry and I have struggled with relationships, or the fact that relationships are just hard. What I love about Ry and Sarah's love story is it proves to me that we can break patterns, and it doesn't have to be "hard" if it's with the right person. So, back to that call.........

"Bear, I just want to tell her that I love her," or something close to that is what Ry said to me not even two weeks after meeting Sarah. I'm probably not supposed to spill this, but he also told me he wanted to marry her. Now let me tell you, he has NEVER said that to me in such a way. I knew this was different than anything else he has ever experienced. It also had me freaked out a bit. I had to remind him that our grandpa said to always give it four seasons. He understood my concern, but he was love struck and nothing else mattered! To be honest, I knew this was it for him too because he has always been my best friend, and I know him almost as well as I know myself.

Ryan is one of the most logical, level-headed people I know, and although that has served him well in many areas of his life, it was doing him a disservice in the love department. You see, he started looking at love with logic instead of feelings. It was basically his way of giving up on love, settling, if you will. His arguments were so persuasive that he even had me questioning if I was searching for something that really didn't exist, except in movies, of course. Then, along came this Florida beauty that felt like home to him from the start. Sarah's astounding fashion sense, along with her shiny blonde hair and dimples, are not the attributes that make her a beauty. It's her warmth, kindness, intelligence, sense of humor, spunky, spiritual soul that got him hooked. I mean, I'm sure the dimples didn't hurt.

Words can't express how proud I am of my brother. He has always had the weight of the world on his shoulders, especially when we were younger. My mother's illness, along with a lack of a father, basically left him in charge of not only raising himself, but me as well. In the past four years he has managed to get sober, get out of the dreaded restaurant business, and create a successful nursery from scratch! He is a one of a kind, stand up man, father, brother, uncle, and partner. I truly believe his prize is Sarah.

To say I wish you both nothing but happiness and joy is true, but we all know marriage is a journey. It's not about always being happy, it's about loving each other as best you can through the valleys and the peaks. You have both already proven through many challenges over the past two years that you have that covered, and then some! I love you both <3

.....Salude!

Registry