Our Costa Rican Dream

Hey there :-) Thank you for taking the time to browse our Fundraiser, it truly means so much to us. I think it’d be helpful to let you know a little more about Ryan and I’s love story before jumping into our dream. We have a pretty unique one.

Our Love Story:

Ryan and I met at FSU back in 2017. We were both in Greek life there. Every year during Homecoming a sorority and a fraternity are paired together to “pomp”. LOL, what the hell does that mean? I was asking myself the same thing. Pomping is the process of making little paper mache pieces to go on the combined float that would march through the streets of the University during the Homecoming Parade. Within that pairing of a sorority and a fraternity, there are also specific pairings of people - and voilà!!! Ryan and I were paired up as “pomping partners’”. Now, while there was absolutely no true “pomping” taking place; we did instantly take a true liking for one another. I mean... we were way "too cool for school" & at that time partying was the only thing on our agenda, I mean… what are two 19 and 21 year olds supposed to do in college? Am I right? Kidding… only a little! Haha.

Over time Ryan and I found ourselves connected at the hip. Meeting each other at such a young age was profound for the two of us. We both knew there was something indescribably special about our connection, but how do we navigate something so new and so beautiful? It was scary. I took off for my summer abroad in Florence, Italy right as we began officially dating and knowing that we couldn’t be away from each other for that long, Ryan joined me in between semesters. I think that’s when we truly fell in love. We got to spend uninterrupted time with one another in a completely foreign place with so many trials and mishaps along the way that we were forced to work together and we did so very harmoniously.

Since then Ryan and I graduated from FSU, moved to Tampa and now we are currently settled in St. Pete in our beautiful home with our two little chihuahua cuties, Momo and Millie Lawrence. I’m excited to have my last name match theirs!! Haha!

We’ve both taught each other so much. Ryan has softened my walls and I have been able to step into a place of true vulnerability and femininity because of him. He grants me a safe space and truly wherever I am with him, feels like home. He has taught me how to healthily communicate and how to be honest with myself and others. How to speak my mind and know what I want and go after it. I have helped him step into a greater place of self assurance and confidence. Reminding him of his strength and his ability to take on the world. His edges are softened around me. He can step into the man and father he was meant to be, and I really get to see that when he’s with the girls. It's so special. We bring out the inner child in the two of us, constantly giggling way into the wee hours of the night, and jumping around the house like two little hooligans. Our lives are truly so blessed and we both see that and feel so very grateful to be in each others lives. Two parts of one whole.

Our Dream:

As we’ve both stepped into these transformed people while being together, our ideals and values have changed very much. We are adamant about simplifying our lives and coming back to Mother Nature. We believe that life doesn’t need to be fast-paced or disconnected - the way that most of life is lived in the U.S.

Once we got engaged in Costa Rica back in 2021, we were instantly hooked. We had found the place of our dreams. We looked around and witnessed the power of community and nature here. It felt like something neither of us had ever experienced before. The people were connected to the land and the land to the people. There was a reverence for the magic and miracle of life here.

Our vision for our future is to move to Costa Rica and own a plot of land where we can establish a Retreat Center and homestead for us, our friends, and future family. With the Retreat Center, I hope to be able to lead numerous spiritual retreats throughout the year as moments in time for people from all over the globe to be shown and reminded of the sacredness of Life and learn how to take that back home with them and integrate it into their world. Ryan’s looking forward to having something to tend to and provide for his family, allowing him to connect back to nature and find out who he truly is. We also hope to raise a small farm and garden. Connecting back to our roots and giving back to the land. Sustainability is also something we want to incorporate into our Retreat Center and we hope to be able to do this by the joining of a few special friends eventually.

It’s not a matter of when this is going to happen, it’s a matter of how. Day in and day out Ryan and I have it in our minds and hearts that this is our goal, our vision, our dream, and we need the help of our loved ones to be able to support us in making this happen. Our foot is on the gas peddle and we are doing all that we can to bring this into fruition, not just for ourselves, but for the world. Our world needs community, healing, love, and sacred places of magic & we hope to be able to deliver this.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for any donation you can give. You are helping us help the world!