Our Story
Janet & Bart
Bart and I were initially drawn together by our shared love of adventure and by our sense of wonder and curiosity about the world. Those shared values became the foundation of our relationship. Just as important, kindness, love, and respect continue to bind us together.
Adventure, Curiosity, Respect, Kindness, Love
For us, adventure does not have to be a trip to France, Austria, and Switzerland, or a day-long rappel down a multi-pitch canyon in Zion through pools of water, ending with a 150-foot free rappel. Okay, these were some good adventures. But we don’t have to travel to the other side of the world or rappel down canyons to find adventure. Countless times we have set off for a mundane errand and ended up on an unplanned adventure. Recently, while scouting a mountain bike trail by Three Springs in Durango, we somehow ended up on private land. We did not realize we were trespassing until we saw a man in a cowboy hat speeding toward us on a three-wheeler, and he looked mad. We pleaded innocence, but he clearly had us pegged as liberal, tree-hugging, woke mountain bikers and was not amused, no matter how much I flashed my smile. After a stern scolding, we drove away as fast as we could, laughing uncontrollably.
We also share an insatiable appetite for learning, another foundation of our relationship. Bart’s love of economics has long been a source of joy for him—and awe for me. I witnessed the behind-the-scenes prep and dedication that led him to win teaching awards. He took his profession seriously, and I found this irresistible. I believe he looked at me with the same sense of awe as I worked countless hours to support students in English classes and provide faculty with meaningful professional development at San Juan College. I took these things seriously, too. We are kindred spirits in our love of learning and in our dedication to promoting critical thinking.
At the heart of our relationship,
is a deep respect and admiration for each other. We have established a level of trust that has allowed us to share our deepest vulnerabilities with each other. And contrary to what I once believed about such openness, we love each other even more because of it. I understand and respect the person that Bart is, and I know he feels the same about me. We truly listen to each other and attempt to set aside our biases and preconceived notions. We really listen. We validate each other’s feelings and practice kindness and love. Always.
After more than a decade together, we were married in a private ceremony on October 25, 2025. Now, we invite those dearest to us to join in celebrating the beginning of a new chapter in our shared story of love.