Our Journey

It all began in June 2008, on a Sunday afternoon after a round of golf. Ryan walked into "Swede’s Place" to grab a bite with his dad and ended up sitting next to Shannon. The two struck up a conversation that lasted over two hours, but life took them in different directions, and they didn’t cross paths again until March 2010.

That spring, Shannon walked into Doherty Law Offices seeking legal advice from Joe Doherty about her family’s case. Joe recommended that Ryan handle it, so he set up an appointment for them to meet. Shannon didn’t remember Ryan by name or their previous encounter, but the moment she walked into his office, recognition dawned, and they both started laughing. Although Shannon decided to hire a different attorney at the time, fate wasn’t done with them yet. Six months later, their paths crossed again, and they slowly began dating.

Since then, their relationship has been filled with life’s highs and lows. Together, they’ve faced sickness, surgeries, broken bones, the loss of loved ones, and even a house fire. Yet, their resilience has only strengthened their bond. They’ve also shared incredible adventures—traveling to Mexico, Arizona, Minnesota, Colorado, and the Dominican Republic. They’ve celebrated friends’ weddings, witnessed some of those couples start families, and even seen others go through divorces and remarriages.

But their greatest joy has been their family. Ryan’s two boys and Shannon’s four kids—one son and three daughters—came together effortlessly, forming unbreakable sibling bonds and friendships. Over the years, they’ve celebrated numerous milestones: three high school graduations, one child becoming a sergeant in the U.S. Air Force, and the excitement of welcoming grandchildren. With two kids still in school, their family continues to grow and evolve.

In their 14 years together, they’ve built a life full of love, perseverance, and joy. They’ve blended their families, purchased property, remodeled a house after a fire, and created countless memories along the way.

We are so blessed and truly happy.

Taking this next step feels like the natural way to continue writing our story and embracing the beautiful chapters that lie ahead.