Our Story

Oneea says:
August 16th, 2002 was an ordinary Friday night - girls night out. I can’t say enough about how unordinary that night turned out to be. To make a long story short, I was dared to find someone to “exchange beads with,” a tradition at the Lucky Star. I turned around and saw a guy (Dan) with the most amazing smile (in fact I thought he was a friend that I hadn’t seen for awhile). I walked over and gave him my beads. As it turns out, he wasn’t the old friend that I thought he was.  In fact, I had never met him before. He offered to buy me a drink and I accepted.  Anyone who knows me knows this didn’t usually happen. We started talking and immediately hit it off - he even offered to take me to Indian Food. He called the next Sunday and we went out to dinner the following Tuesday at the Village Tavern at the Flatiron Mall. I don’t think I had ever been so nervous in my life. I couldn’t even remember my name, but as soon as I saw him I felt so comfortable. It felt like we already knew each other. I even told him about my son, Niko.

On another interesting note: Just before I met Dan for our first date, I was reading an astrology book. The book suggested that a Pisces’ (my sign) best match is a Cancer. The book also said that one of Leo's (Niko) best matches is a Cancer. After reading this information, I told my mom that I would never date anyone other than a Cancer.  This, of course, was before I knew that Dan was a Cancer! As it turns out, the astrology book was right.

Dan is my perfect match in so many ways. We have so many things in common, and share the same dreams and passions.  The few differences we do have continue to make us stronger as individuals. Dan has a wonderful way of bringing out the very best in everything around him. He can make me smile on my worst days.  He can also make me so happy that I cry on my best days. He is my best friend and I know we will make it through anything. This doesn’t go for just me, but Niko as well. I have never seen my son as excited as when Dan comes home from work. Dan has become more than a friend for Niko, he has become a dad. Any of us with children know that isn’t an easy job.

I can’t write enough about Dan’s wonderful qualities. My love for him grows every day.

Dan says:
If I could pick one phrase to sum up our story, it would be: Our story has just begun...

I would have never guessed that a "routine" night out in downtown Denver would have such a huge impact on my life.

Oneea is a source of constant happiness in my life. She's always there for me, and can always find a way to make me laugh (singing sweet, sweet honey bear, or doing one of her dance moves are 2 of my personal favorites). Not only did I find the girl of my dreams that night, but also my future wife and best friend.

A lot of great things have happened since the night we met.  I won't get into all of the details, but I will say that I was welcomed into a wonderful new family. Oneea, Niko, and the rest of their family have accepted me as a fiance, father, son, brother, uncle, and cousin. Thank you for making me feel so welcome, and for your constant support.

Our story is constantly being updated, and I feel like we're still somewhere in CHAPTER 1. We've accomplished so much already, and I can't wait to follow our dreams as we continue to write "Our Story."