So, lets start at the beginning, the New Beginning…

We met four years ago.  I had recently been elected to the position of Alderman of the 6th Ward for the City of Kingston.  He had been recently been promoted to the position of Police Chief for the City of Kingston.  That was the start of what would turn out to be our New Beginning.

We had very distinct differences; I was born and raised in the City of Kingston. He was born and raised 21 miles away, in the town of Olive. I guess you could say we were the country mouse and the city mouse.

We had very distinct similarities; We had the same values. Family, God and hard work.

We were friends for a very long time….

What can I say, there is nothing sweeter than falling in love with your best friend. The person who has seen the good, the bad and the ugly…. and still loves you.

We both brought children into our relationship. He has two grown children. His children now 22 (daughter) and 21 (son). Mine,  22 (daughter), 16 (son), 12 (daughter) and 8 (son). Three girls and three boys. The Tinti/Ball bunch!

For the most part everyone gets along very, very well. My oldest daughter has had difficulty with my divorce from her father, and has chosen to distance herself. We have a strained relationship… but one that is slowly improving. I hope and pray for the best simply because she is missing so many amazing experiences.

In all relationships there comes a turning point… You either move forward together, or you move apart. Thank God we have moved forward together. We started to look for a home, someplace geographically in the middle, large enough for all of us, that had enough property where he could “wrench”.  (He can’t sit still! He needs his shop where he can build and weld and work on the cars). That’s a tall order!