I actually met Shannon the day before Halloween at a party in 2004. We actually really didn't talk that night, but were fond of each other. After talking more through mutual friends, we went on our first date on January 13^th, 2005. Things started off pretty quick. So quick in fact that on March 10th, 2005 I had proposed to Shannon . We were married by a judge due to my feelings towards religion and god at the time. Shannon had a lot of those same feelings, but she was starting to "come back." I was raised a catholic, but ventured away due to many worldly questions in my head.

So after the wedding, we hit many bumps in the road. We had some financial difficulty. We had some trust issues. We had both lost faith in our marriage. Things started to get worse and worse. In December of 2006, Shannon left me. I felt crushed, like nothing was left for me. I started praying for my family every day. I started asking God for her forgiveness, for her safety and well-being. Heck, why wouldn't I pray? I had nowhere else to go!

I stayed faithful though. I stayed faithful...loving...and persistent. I did not let a day go by that I would not call and leave a voicemail or text message saying how much I missed and loved her. ...and it was weeks upon weeks before she answered the phone. BUT SHE DID! By Valentines Day, we were talking and knew we still loved each other, but the love we had, as vast as it may have been, was not able to hold us together alone.

Shannon had been reading the bible, looking for something through all of this. Answers? A new outlook? Purpose? Well, she stuck with it, and found an old friend who had recently become engulfed in his Christianity. They started speaking, and Shannon went to his church one day with him. She got out and called me, and said how it was "SO DIFFERENT!" About a month or so later, after talking with Shannon day after day about her readings, I went to mass with her. Not only do I attend mass multiple times a week, but I hooked up with a few guys (one being our minister) to do bible study too!

Our lives are so different. I can't express the love and desires we have for each other now. Shannon started wearing her wedding ring again! We have put God first in our lives. . We read the bible and pray together every single day. We are also looking forward to our baptisms as well...which we intend on doing together. .

Shine.FM has been such a good thing for us. Shannon was a rocker chick, and I was a club DJ for years. Now we have changed up our focus on our music. Shannon is now looking for ways to inspire people with her music just like the artists on Shine.FM! Put out a positive message that will motivate people. I have not been in the clubs or bars for a while now, and am looking at working the sound board for my church's band and choir.

Our lives have been re-written. Shannon and I have changed so much in our lives to improve our relationship with God. We are looking forward to a bright future and leaving the darkness in our past.

Thank you, Shine.FM for being there with us along our path. You have something special going on over there and we are 2 of your biggest cheerleaders. Keep up all the hard work and dedication you put into your music. You do make a difference in a life every day, and you were walking right behind Shannon and I through our journeys back to god, and back together.

Joe