Sarah & Brett

William 'LB' Sands - Partner! Since the day that I met you, in the Police Academy #285, you have proven yourself to be an overachiever. And never in a showboat, brown nose or negative kind of way. Not to mention, you're good at everything. Beyond that, you genuinely are one of the most caring and thoughtful people that I have ever met. You go above and beyond, not just for family and friends, but also for complete strangers. From making coffee for cops and building cornhole boards for charity, to pulling over on I-95 for a broken down vehicle, and setting up a suspicious unknown intruder at your house to celebrate my birthday; you are a true friend that anyone would be lucky to know. I'll never forget the midnight shift struggles to stay awake. The attempt to capture a lose K9 on US27 at 2 am and you throwing your back out in the process. The criminal hunts we had which subsequently led to the multiple drug arrests that we made together. The smoothies we drank. The Menchies we ate. The times under the tiki. The bond that will last a life time. You're a great friend, a loving husband, and an amazing father to two incredible girls. Your generosity and kind heart never cease to amaze me.

Kyle 'Kyaaah' Klein - I met the biggest instigator of all of my friends in the Police Academy #285. Besides being an instigator, Kyle is the person that will always stand behind you and he will always be there for you. And then, when it's safe, he'll make fun of the fauxhawk you had on the frist day of the police academy because the instructor yelled at you for having it. With that being said, he's also the type of guy that would shave his head and go to one of the most challenging SWAT schools with you, he'll run sprints up hills with a gas mask on with you, do the Murph with weighted vests with you, and swim through a Jen Martin Swim School with you. He's always down to go - whatever the challenge (or party). Even more than just being a physical specimen, he has a huge heart. He always makes himself available to listen to me vent (not that I ever would) and he is great at offering sound advice when needed. Kyle always seems to be the glue to friendships. He fits in with anyone and everyone. He's always been the guy that maintained a bunch of different friend groups that he established at different periods throughout his life; and then, he has the ability to get them all together where they end up developing even greater friendships. Even though Kyle was forced to move to the West coast to protect America, he's always only a phone call away.

Brandon 'Bdogg' Neifeld - Also one of my longest running friends. I don't remember the year that we met, but I do remember battling it out in flag football and t-ball before we eventually united in both and began our sports prowess as teammates at Pasadena Lakes. You truly are the most intelligent and talented individual (behind Sarah) that I have had the privilege of knowing. I'll never forget when we were in elementary school and you rode your bike to my house with your binder loaded with football cards. And as I was waving you in, your front tire caught a root of a tree... "and down goes Frazier." When I think back to our early days, I can't help but to recall the long and late nights of AlienAA resets, NFL Street, and Halo domination. And I'm sure that we'll always remember the most epic pick-up football games, hands down, ever! From field days in elementary school, to the classes that we shared in middle school (Ms. Costanza calling your mom), high school (gym class with J. Reed playing volleyball), and then visits in college ("It's cool, I go to school in West Liberty"), we've shared so many great memories throughout the years. Now we're both fathers to amazing children. Who would have thought? I consider myself lucky to have had a friend like you that only lived a few blocks away.

Joey 'Jkali' Kalchuk - One of my friends that I go way back with, since the second grade. We've had our fair share of being close like brothers and then being apart to where we don't talk for months on end. But, as we've talked about, once we get together or catch up on the phone, it's as if we jump right back into the brotherly love that we've always shared. My memories range from sleepovers, to bicycle rides to Kim's house, to Rick picking you up from school on a motorcycle, to birthdays (and suits) at the Hard Rock (Culpepper), to wrestling and bouncing off of invisible ropes (WWF/WWE style) in your room with the 7 ft tall poster of the Undertaker, to getting dominated in Jet Moto on Playstation, to sitting in the parking lot of Publix with DMX blasting, and even applying to FSU together. We've had some unforgetable times. Although I'm disappointed that a beautiful woman swept you off your feet and whisked you away from me to New York, I am extremely proud to see your growth and happy that you followed your heart. I will never stop questioning your love for entertainment wrestling, the Foo Fighters, and more recently, crypto currency. You're an incredible individual that is just beginning to tap into your true potential.

Eric 'Shaggy/Shazz' Weisberg - Where do I begin? Oh, yeah, senior year, high school football for the Cooper City Cowboys. I remember you taking me out of the last game that I ever played. To replace me. Real cool. And then, more accurately, our friendship really began summer of Freshman year at FSU. We were an odd group - Map Man, Deje, Shaggy, and myself - but we made it work. I'll never forget how outgoing you were. You would talk to any and every girl. All of them. The hottest. Befriended them. And then, one day, you got shy. Somehow you myteriously forgot your gift of gab. We would lift, go to classses, skip classes (sorry mom), go to restaurants (Guthrie's, Mr. Roboto's, Moe's), go to bars, go to clubs, join a frat, get hazed by said frat, go to parties, go to tailgates, maybe defend eachother a time or two, work at GNC together, become roommates, play a ton of Halo, drink a gallon of milk, warm 40s, DD, beer pong, meet eachothers families, and then, we became family. You had one of the best weddings I've ever been to, if you don't believe me, ask me or my dad. LOL. Nowadays, we've moved on from our college days and you've got a beautiful wife and an amazing daughter. You, Mairim, and Khaleesi are very much involved in our lives and we wouldn't have it any other way.

The first story that I remember of you was from senior year of high school at Cooper City. Mr. Scarfetti was yelling at you for falling asleep in our English class. Good times. We learned a lot, I’m sure. We became close during our Garnet and Gold years. Go Noles! “Click” and “Clack” on the football field. “Drafting” on the Halo battlefields. Getting yuge in the gym. And late nights challenging Tim Tebow’s backup on the Tallahassee strip. Oh, that really was Cam Newton? Cool. You have always been a friend that would drop whatever you were doing to help another friend in need. Normally it was due to a failed battery but I can remember several occasions when I was scrambling through my phone and looking for a dependable friend to help in a pinch, and time after time, ‘Deje’ was the name I would rely on. I had the honor of standing next to you on your wedding day, toasting to you and Karey that night in front of your other friends and family members, and then seeing you bring one of the cutest baby girl’s into this world, Daniela. You haven’t been just a friend or roommate over the years, you’ve always been more like family to me.

Jason 'Huncle J' Fialkov - I always wanted a big brother. I just didn't know that I wanted one that's taller, super fit, ridiculously good looking, and extremely gifted at life. We first met when I first pursued your sister, circa FSU/UF (Tim Tebow) days. Although she doesn't remember it (me), and I'm sure you don't remember it (me), I will never forget the imortance that she placed on having your approval. A little history lesson: the first time, during winter break, when Sarah and I were both in South Florida, it didn't work out so well for Sarah and me. Nothing to do with me (of course), but more to do with her attraction to an ex - ew! The second time, Sarah and I were both in South Florida and had graduated from our respective colleges. Sarah and I hung out all of the time and we became really close. Admittedly, I initially disliked how much she sought your guidance as your leadership qualities rivaled my own. But, after some short time had gone by, I began to understand why Sarah sought out your wisdom. For her entire life, you were her guardian, the man that would protect her from harm. Whether it was threats from inadequate pursuers of your sister's heart, random guys in Gainesville that tested your Super Saiyan, heartless bosses, or financial uncertainties, big brother Jason, always (without a shred of a doubt) made himself available to drop some knowledge (and some bows). Soon, I too, found myself saying, "I don't know, we should ask Jason." You are an extremely likeable person and have more actual friends than I had ever "friended" on Facebook. You are always there for your family and continue to make sure that you're here for the big events in our lives; gender reveal and Sadie's birth being the most recent that come to mind. I love you big bro, and I couldn't be happier to be a part of your family.

Another big brother officially came into my life circa 2018. I couldn’t have asked for a better person to welcome into the family as the husband to my sister. The joy that you bring to my sister's life has been unmatched throughout her previous suitors that I’ve heard about over the years. Although you’re not always a man of many words, you display your intelligence brilliantly when you speak. From sports to prescription glasses, you know it all. You have plenty of other endearing qualities, one of which earned you your special agent nickname, ‘Ripped Rivas.’ Beyond that, you’re thoughtful, caring, and always fun to be around. You’re ambitious, personable, and versatile. I admire your ability to encompass all of those skills into one ripped body and brainy mind. You can wear the corporate suit and tie from 9-5, roll around town on bicycles and bounce around on playgrounds with my sister, go home and crush some video games and then can chug a beer with the best of bros. Can’t wait to celebrate my special day with you and the rest of the bros in bro paradise.

When talking about key people, we can’t keep our parents out of the mix.
Besides raising us into the upstanding and outstanding humans we are, they also support us tremendously as a couple and as a growing family. Whether it was taking us both in for a few months during our first home renovation, being there for Sarah while she was pregnant and Brett was away for 5 months, being on call for every homeowner issue and fix-it problem, or being phenomenal and present grandparents to Sadie, we are so thankful for all of them. This life adventure is more bountiful and a little easier with them 5 to 15 minutes away.
Thank you for loving us. We have always appreciated you, but our appreciation and admiration has only grown exponentially after seeing life from the parents’ vantage point.
Can’t wait to celebrate with you in Punta Cana.