Our Story

Tom and I worked together in the education field for five years before he worked up the courage to ask me out on a date! 

We share a love of cooking. Every Sunday, I embrace my Swedish grandmother’s tradition of baking on Sundays.  As the aroma of cinnamon spices fills the house, weI know that the comforting warmth of the coffee cake or Swedish biscotti with our morning coffee will carry us through the week.  

We like watching the NFL in the Fall with football Sundays; I root for the Baltimore Ravens while Tom cheers for his hometown Pittsburgh Steelers.

At the end of a long week, we like to head to the boat, pack some sandwiches, and go boating, leaving all our problems on shore.  It helps us keep perspective on what’s important in life.

We also enjoy road trips to visit our families, cooking together, art, sports, hiking, reading, and relaxing by watching Netflix.  

“I love that he makes me laugh and always ‘has my back.’”

— Brianna on what she loves about Tom

“I admire her zest for life. She loves adventures and always sees the good in people.”

— Tom on what he loves about Brianna

  • Holiday festivities.

  • Celebrating our anniversary.

  • Seeing the sights.

  • Cruising together.

Volunteering

We both believe in giving back to our communities.  We are active in our church and also volunteer with different organizations.  

I volunteer as a grant coordinator for a nonprofit that supports education for girls, sustainable agriculture, and eco-friendly development projects in Ethiopia and Kenya.  

Tom and I sponsor four children in Africa; our sponsorship covers school fees, meals, supplies, and clothes for Barkot, Virginia, Miles, and Francis.  

In the summer of 2024, we plan to travel to Kenya to volunteer for a week at a Kenyan school and child care center and meet our sponsored children. We plan to teach our child about the importance of doing good in the world by visiting Kenya with our child one day.