28 years ago, at a nail competition in the heart of Dallas — an unlikely place, perhaps, to meet the love of your life. But fate has a thing for surprises.

We always joke that she came to meet Troy Aikman... little did she know what was really in store for her.

She caught my eye before I even realized I was looking for someone. There was this effortless confidence about her — like she belonged there, like she belonged anywhere. That night, we laughed and sang songs at a piano bar, just enjoying getting to know each other. I didn’t know it at the time, but I had just met my future wife.

We started dating long-distance — talking on the phone for hours, my late nights becoming her early mornings. We made more trips between California and Carolina than I can count. Until one day, I asked her to take a leap of faith... and move across the country.

Together, we’ve raised our three beautiful kids, and now we’re “Nana and Papa” to three — soon to be four — wonderful grandbabies.

Tim McGraw sings about “My Next Thirty Years,” and good Lord willing, Nana and Papa will be side by side through them all — ‘til death do us part.