Our Stories

Every family has stories that define them. This part of the site is for some of our stories, that we've decided to share with you all.

From the story of our first date through Lillianne's birth story & beyond...

First Date

as told by Troy

Jennifer and Troy met in the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) a few years ago, and had crossed paths from time-to-time. Although Jenn doesn't remember, I even attended her 21st birthday, via a mutual friend. At an SCA "war" in September of 2000, we spent some time together, and I was "hooked". Unfortunately, Jenn had to leave the war early for work, and I didn't get the much needed chance to see more of her. Luckily, I was able to catch a mutual friend, Chani. I gave her my number and asked her to get it to Jennifer & see if she'd like to get ahold of me to go out sometime.

The next day, September 5th, I talked to her to setup a trip to "The Happiest Place on Earth"- Disneyland for the 6th. But we kept talking & decided to go out for dinner. So, our real first date turned out to be September 5th. We went to Outback Steakhouse for dinner, then headed down to the beach. We walked along the boardwalk, talking till the early hours of the morning. I dropped Jenn at home to sleep for a few hours before I picked her up the next morning, to head to "The Magic Kingdom".

On the morning of September 6th, I picked up Jennifer for our first (of many) trips to Disneyland. After an incredible day together, I truly knew that this was the woman I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. And every day since, has confirmed those beliefs. I couldn't imagine a more perfect woman to fill the void in my life.

Marriage Vows

as written by Troy

Introduction:

Jedon:

Good Afternoon. We have gathered here today in the love of friendship and family to celebrate the uniting of two souls. To honor their commitment to not just gazing at one another, but looking outward together in the same direction. As Troy Anthony Stepp and Jennifer Osborne come before you here today as two, they will leave this place as one, united in marriage.

Jedon:

Being assured that your love and your choice of each other as lifelong companions are in God's will and that you have your families' blessings. I now ask. Who gives this woman to be married to this man?

Robert:

Her mother and I do. (Robert places Jenn’s hand in Troy’s hand and is seated)

Jedon:

In marriage, we give ourselves freely and generously into the hands of the one we love, and in doing so, each of us receives the love and trust of the other as our most precious gift. But even as that gift is shared by the two people who are in love, it also touches the friends and family members who in various ways support and contribute to the relationship.

Jedon:

All of you are Troy and Jennifer’s community, and each of you has played some role in bringing them to this moment. This is why gathering as a community is such an important part of a wedding ceremony. Because Troy and Jennifer are now taking a new form, they become part of their community in a new way.

Vows:

Jedon:

(having them face each other).

Jedon:

Troy, do you take Jennifer, to be your loving wife, your partner in life and your one true love.

Will you cherish your friendship and love her today, tomorrow, and forever.

Will you trust and honor her

Will you laugh with her and cry with her.

Will you love her faithfully

Through the best and the worst,

Through the difficult and the easy.

What may come will you always be there.

As you have given your hand to hold,

do you give her your life to keep

So help you God

Troy:

I do.

Jedon:

Jennifer, do you take Troy, to be your loving husband, your partner in life and your one true love.

Will you cherish your friendship and love him today, tomorrow, and forever.

Will you trust and honor him

Will you laugh with him and cry with him.

Will you love him faithfully

Through the best and the worst,

Through the difficult and the easy.

What may come will you always be there.

As you have given your hand to hold,

do you give him your life to keep

So help you God

Jennifer:

I do.

Exchange of Rings:

Jedon:

These rings are a symbol of the unbroken circle of love. Love freely given has no beginning and no end, no giver and no receiver for each is the giver and each is the receiver. May these rings always remind you of the vows you have taken.

Troy:

I, Troy, choose you, Jennifer, as my everything. With this ring, I vow to love you through sickness and health, through the good and the bad, through richer and poorer. You are everything I need, and I know that all my prayers have been answered and that all of my dreams have come true. This is the moment I have waited my whole life for. I promise to give you my heart & soul and I know that I could not ask for more from you. I love you and always will. This is my solemn vow.

Jennifer:

I, Jennifer, choose you, Troy, as my everything. With this ring, I vow to love you through sickness and health, through the good and the bad, through richer and poorer. You are everything I need, and I know that all my prayers have been answered and that all of my dreams have come true. This is the moment I have waited my whole life for. I promise to give you my heart & soul and I know that I could not ask for more from you. I love you and always will. This is my solemn vow.

Closing:

Jedon:

Troy and Jennifer, although I’m officiating here today, it is not truly in my power to sanctify, legitimize or bless your relationship in any way, because the two of you have already done that in your hearts. So, by joining hands right now and looking into each other’s eyes, let it be known that you are joined, body and soul in this lifetime, and that this bond is sacred and eternal. And now that you have stood here before us all and exchanged these rings and these vows, and have agreed to be married according to the laws of the state of California, it gives me gives me great pleasure to pronounce that you are Husband and Wife. You may now kiss your bride.

Jedon:

May the two of you live happily-ever-after. I now present to you,

Mr. & Mrs. Troy Anthony Stepp.

Our H0neymoon

We toured around the Pacific. Here are some highlights...

Family Breakfast at the 'Broken Yolk'

Our first day as man & wife was a busy one. We woke to run & meet family for breakfast at Pacific Beach's 'Broken Yolk' restaurant. Where we also opened gifts & spent the morning with family.

Afternoon at the Disneyland Park

Our day continued as we grabbed our bags & headed for the big "D". No, not that "D", Disneyland!!! With Disneyland as deeply embedded in our relationship as it is, we decided it was a much needed stop. So, we spent the afternoon with Mickey & the gang.

First thing when we got there, was to get our mouse ears top hat & veil. As we boarded our ship for the Pirates of the Carribean ride, we were offered "The Romantic Cruise". Which was a surprise, turned out to be our very own boat. And as we left the park, we stopped at the music store, where I found the coolest bluegrass album, O' Mickey, where art thou. Not only did the guy working the counter give us his employee discount, he also played Beauty and the Beast for us. So, we danced there in the store.

Kauai Marriott Resort & Beach Club

Set on 800 lush tropical acres on Kalapaki Bay, we unwound by the spectacular pool and on the soft white sand beaches. The property encompasses all the land from the ocean to the airport, including a quarter mile of ocean coastline. The resort has two Jack Nicklaus-designed golf courses, eight tennis courts, retail shops, four restaurants and lounges, a huge swimming pool complex with five jacuzzis, a full service spa, and an extensive collection of Pacific Rim and Hawaiian art.

During our stay in Kauai, we took a trip to the Hanalei Bay resort. Due to Jenn's love for the movie 'South Pacific', we enjoyed drinks at the resort's Happy-Talk Lounge, but we decided not to wait around for dinner at the resort's Bali Hai Restaurant.

We did take in an incredible helicopter tour of the island, and an off-road 4x4 tour of movie locations around the island.

Marriott Maui Resort

The Maui Marriott Resort and Ocean Club is a casual, full-service resort located on breathtaking Kaanapali Beach. The historic town of Lahaina was three miles away. The Maui Marriott Resort and Ocean Club recently completed phase one of an extensive renovation project. The front entrance was redesigned with a porte cochere added, new gardens and luau grounds were constructed, the lobby atrium and public areas were remodeled to include exciting restaurants, retail shops and water features and a spectacular new super pool was created featuring a grotto, island bar, multi-tiered waterfall, "shipwreck" water playground and zero entry sand pool. It was incredible.

Also, during our stay in Lahaina we took in the most authentic Hawaiian luau in all of the islands, the Old Lahaina Luau. It was not only a traditional luau feast and hula dancing … it was an evening of immersion in the culture of the Hawaiian islands.

During our stay in Maui, we drove around a lot of the island, snorkeled in Molokini (an underwater crater), and parasailed.

Lillianne Stepp

was born on

Friday, April 21, 2006 at 9:22pm

7-pounds, 4-ounces

19-1/2 inches long

Lillianne's Birth

On Friday, April 21, 2006, at 9:30am Jennifer’s water broke. She called Troy at work – and ordered a carne asada burrito, while he was on his way home. Jennifer was feeling great. She had a lot of energy, positive attitude and was not feeling any labor pains at that point. Although she was reluctant, Jennifer called the hospital to inform them of her progress. They wanted her to come in for observation. Jennifer’s plan was to stay home as long as possible. She figured they would send her right back home until she would progress further, so she went to appease them.

When they arrived at La Jolla, Scripps Memorial Hospital, a hospital staff examined Jennifer, she was 2-1/2 to 3 centimeters dilated (She needed to get to 10 centimeters before she’s ready to push). Her doctor decided to admitted her to the hospital around noon and discussed administering Pitocin to get her labor started. Not only did she not get to labor in the comfort of her own home but they wanted to drug her up to get labor going. Jennifer & Troy denied the induction, as she and the baby were healthy and safe. Instead she opted to walk around to encourage labor naturally.

By 2:00pm Jennifer's brother Brandon, was keeping Jennifer & Troy company. They had just come back from a walk around the Labor/Delivery floor. Nurse Jane had Jennifer on the fetal monitor for a half an hour to check Lilliane’s health. Afterwards she could walk around again. To pass the time, Troy had connected his multimedia player to the television in the room, and were watching a slideshow of photos of our Wedding and watched Walt Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast”.

At 2:57pm, Nurse Jane checked Jennifer’s progress. She was 3 to 4 centimeters dilated now. Jennifer was really antsy to get up off the bed by now but the nurse wanted her to remain on the monitor, something about they were having a difficult time getting a consistent reading. Jennifer was entering active labor at this point. We started massaging her achy muscles and applied counter pressure to Jennifer’s hips during contractions. This helped Jennifer with her contractions and also assisted bringing her further along.

By 3:45pm, Jennifer had threw up the carne asada and was heading for the shower. Nurse Jane said it was ok, as if her opinion mattered at this point. Troy stood at the edge of the shower for support & Jennifer's safety, he was soaked.

At 4:35pm, Jennifer had progress to 6 centimeters and was 100% effacement (her cervix was paper thin). By 4:45pm Troy's sister, Torrey & Jennifer's best friend, Debbie arrived for support. Jennifer had been laboring very hard and was so tired by now. She and Troy discussed an Epidural to take the edge off her labor pains, this way she could get some rest and save her energy for the birth. At 5:30pm, the Epidural was administered by the Anesthesiologist. We kicked everyone out of the room so Jennifer could get some rest.

By 6:00pm, inside Jennifer’s room and out in the hospital corridors were billows of family and friends wishing their best for Jennifer and Troy.

At 7:15pm, Jennifer had progress to 10 centimeters and –1 station (this is the placement of the baby in the birthing canal, +4 to +5 is birth). Lillianne had a little further to go before Jennifer should push. At 7:21pm, Lillianne was at +2 station.

At 7:30pm, Jennifer started to push. Jennifer and Troy’s family waited patiently down the hall. Somewhere during Jennifer’s pushing, she had a craving for a Philly steak sandwich. Her younger brother, Warren, left the hospital to get Troy and Jennifer their Philly steak sandwiches. Troy and Jennifer agreed that Warren would be the first to see their baby daughter for doing them such a big favor. When Lillianne was born, her brother came quietly to deliver their food. Once he realized Lillianne was born, he quickly got his Mom instead of himself to be the first to meet baby Lillianne. With complete respect and awe, Troy and Jennifer’s family quietly piled into their little hospital room to greet the new member of the family.

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