Andrew and I met volunteering in high school at the Plymouth Library. I started volunteering there before I started 8th grade. I thought it would be a great way to make friends, give back to my community, and keep busy in the summer. I had no idea what was going to happen the next summer—that I would meet Andrew. Andrew started volunteering at the Plymouth Library after his freshman year in high school. Andrew became friends with Jimmy, one of my friends from volunteering at the library, in math class that year and Jimmy convinced Andrew to volunteer at the library for the summer. 

We were young and didn’t understand how our lives would change over time or that we would eventually spend the rest of our lives together. Andrew was shy and reserved, but I still noticed him. Andrew noticed me too. Whether we were at the library for a Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus event, truck storytime, or just the weekly volunteer meeting (C.L.U.M.P), we had a lot of fun volunteering together. We got close, and dated in that high school kids who don’t know what they are doing way. While we didn’t always see eye to eye, it seemed like nothing would break up our friendship. We went to Andrew’s Junior Prom together, which was a lot of fun. We also kept volunteering at the library throughout high school. Towards the end of high school, we fell out of touch for a while. 

Andrew and I reconnected at a volunteer reunion in 2010, when we started texting and talking online again. We also started meeting up for lunches when I was in town (I went to school out of state). It was almost as if we picked up where we left off--as best friends. After a couple years, we started dating and the rest is history—and I like to think was our destiny. Andrew and I were meant to be together. Now, we get to spend the rest of our lives together building our family (and building our nest) through adoption.

Enjoy these pictures of socially awkward Andrew and I, a few snapshots from our high school volunteering days.