3

April 27, 2020

Dear Kip,

Well, if we were to pick one of the most stressful times to start dating, I would say that we nailed it.  Since the middle of March, the United States has been on a social distancing order and later a stay-at-home order.  Because work, school, and social activities changed drastically, so did our daily lives.    

To say this is a stressful time is an understatement, especially for you.  To know you is to know that family is important to you.  To know you is to know that family doesn’t have to be blood.  And right now, your family is deeply affected by changes in daily living. You haven’t been able to go to Mandan to see your kids and grandkids in over a month and the economy is tanking causing oil prices to plummet, putting extra stress on you at work.

During this time of stress for you, I want to learn to give you love how you need to be loved.  And as confident as I am that I will love you forever, I am not confident in how you need to be loved right now.  Do you need space?  Do you need me to show up unexpectedly with coffee?  Do you need me to make you talk?  Do you need me to sit quietly next to you and just keep you company? 

I know there is nothing I can do to make your stress go away right now.  Not seeing your kids has to be the worst.  Having to lay employees off that you know depend on you for a living cannot be easy.  But I want to be your person that you can count on for peace and safety.  You have given me so much already…you have been my safe spot and my home, my company and my entertainment, my sounding board and my voice of reason during this stressful time.  I want to be able to give back to you what you have given me. 

So, Kip, I guess what I am trying to say is that I promise to learn and to love you, not only when times are easy, but also when times are tough.  Right now. 

Love you always,

Brandy Lynne

2

April 13, 2020

Dear Kip, 

We have both been blessed with parents who stayed married, close extended family, and amazing kids.  We have both fallen in love, married, and experienced the joy of raising children.  We have both experienced losses, been hurt, and then healed.  We have both experienced contentment in where we have been and where we currently are.  And yet we have both been looking for something more…

I cannot seem to get out of my head that the last 50 years for you and 40 years for me have been leading up to this exact point in time.  Right now.  This is when the timing was right for our paths to cross and we can finally find that something more. 

For me, that is you, Kip.  I found you (well, you found me and for that, I will be forever grateful).  The man who I knew I loved on the first day we met in person.  You, Kip, the man that I trust fully.  You, Kip, the man that I know I want to spend as many years loving as God will allow me.  You, Kip, the man who will be a part of my greatest love story.

Love you always,

Brandy Lynne