MY BRIDE AND WIFE FOREVER

These are the words of a new man. I now finally consider myself a man, because growing up I always heard," Standing next to a great man is an even better women." I cannot begin to describe the feelings, visions and reflections I have towards her. This picture posted here is how I will forever see my beautiful wife.

One of my greatest friends recently told me a story about the first time he met Cammie. He was coming down to Florida from Virginia to go on a cruise. He came to my college and before even going to meet my roommates and friends, he told me I said, "Hey, I want you to come and meet the girl I am going to marry." That was about 5 years ago around this time. I had no idea about this story until he told me and I'm glad he did.

I love my bride.

I love my wife.

I love the women who I will spend the rest of my life with.

How We Met...

It was the early part of spring in 2004, when we ran into each other in the most romantic of settings; the mail room (aka a mobile home) at Indian River Community College. Cammie was checking her mail and it was nothing special. On the other hand, Ryan had a nice little package waiting for him. The contents inside of the package were none other than the world's most famous, delicious and addictive chocolate covered pretzels from Malley's*. Cammie and her roommate were asking what was inside the package and very reluctantly Ryan spilled the truth. Both of the girls were completely stunned that the taste was more than they expected so they asked for another. Ryan refused to give them one because he was all too fond of the Malley's chocolate covered pretzels "snow ball effect" (one more turns into four or five more).

Later that night, Ryan was in his room "studying", watching "educational" T.V. and drinking "water" when he heard a knock at his door. To his surprise it was Cammie. Cammie, being the sweat, caring, and innocent person that she is, started asking the friendly, get to know you questions.

"Hey, Jersey" (she thought this was Ryan's real name for a little bit). "How are you?"

"I'm good," Ryan says, still surprised.

"How is baseball going?"

"Good." Ryan starting to notice Cammie's eyes wondering around his room.

"How do you think you did on your tests?"

"Good." Ryan says as he starts to close the door a little bit because now he can see Cammie running her tongue around her lips.

"Hey, do you have anymore of those chocolate covered pretzels?"

"I knew it!"

...and Ryan caved! He gave her some more and we got to talking and getting to know one another and as they say, the rest is history.

In the beginning...

Ryan- on December 4th, 1984 the world was graced with the presence of Ryan Michael Gavagan. Thank god my parents had the final say in my name because if it was up to Emily (my sister) I would have been Hillary Dillary Gavagan or Snow White Gavagan . After leaving the the Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, New Jersey, my mom, dad and 4 year old sister retreated back to our house in Hawthorne. We moved from there when I was about 3 years old to Basking Ridge, New Jersey where I would spend the next 16 years of my life. When I hit the 6th grade I hit a HUGE growth spirt promting my family to tell me "Ryan I don't think you grew any new skin; you just stretched it all out from when you were a baby." My parents threw me into sports and baseball is what stuck. Baseball took my all over the country and finally landed me in Florida at Indian River Community College. IRCC was great for many reasons but the best was that this is where I met Cammie.

In the beginning...

Cammie- I was born on April 22, 1985 in Tallahassee, Florida. My parents, David and Deborah, couldn't think of a name for me until the day I was born. When my nurse walked in they saw the name Cameron on her name tag and the rest is history. I have an older brother, Kellen, and two younger sisters, Kersey and Cooper. Yup...our initials are kckc...you can only imagine how many times my dad mixed up our names. My parents, Kellen and I lived in Tallahassee for 7 years, then moved to the Tampa Bay area where later the "surprises" (Kersey and Cooper) happened. I was a gymnast for about 7 years and broke so many bones (6 to be exact) that it led to retirement. After trying multiple sports I finally found the sport of diving. It was a perfect transition! I dove in high school and got a scholarship to Indian River Community College where Ryan and I met. After 2 years at IRCC I transferred to University of Central Florida where I got my Bachelor's in Elementary Education. I taught two years of first grade and now I'm teaching third grade. If you haven't already realized this...I was born on Earth Day and many people believe that's why I am the way I am....green. There's much more to share, but that's me in a nutshell.