In March 2018, Mike arrived in Kyiv and came to our agency, then, MarriageByNatali. He impressed me with his energy, zest for life, and sports tricks that he was performing on each available street pole:) Funny, strong man with deep family values, Mike meets Lana. They liked each other, but Lana’s dream was to have more children, and since it was not in Mike’s plans, they remained only friends.
In February 2022, when the war burst out, Mike not only texted Lana to ask how she was but instead of saying that he is praying for her and Ukraine, Mike took a plane and flew to Poland to help Lana survive the war. Connecting as friends, the couple found a lot more similarities. “When we met in Warsaw I was very stressed. I was running away from war. I caught a very bad cold after sleeping in a train station hall. When I finally met Mike, he cared to find a very comfortable and safe hotel for me. He held my weak hand and looked into my eyes when I was sick. I literally felt as if he was taking my pain away. I felt his great care for me. It made me connect more to Mike and I wanted to be with him more and more” - says Lana reflecting on their meeting in Warsaw.
Mike and Lana started traveling together around Poland, then Germany and Spain. “Germany was a very tough country to travel through. They have very strict rules related to COVID, people appear distant and cold, lots of stress, obstacles, and complications. I remember that it was even difficult to order a meal in a restaurant due to their draconian COVID rules. Despite all those complications, we cared for each other and supported each other. We learned a lot about each other after overcoming those stresses too. Those difficulties connected us instead of putting us apart” – Lana comments on the German part of the trip.
Attraction on Mike’s side grew into deep love. Interest on Lana’s side grew into profound love, affection and respect… I like to suggest our new couples travel together. It adds lots of impressions and memories that people achieve together, as well as it brings enough stress that a couple can handle, or not:) Mike and Lana had some rocky roads while traveling, but instead of disconnecting, they got a better understanding of each other’s vulnerability and comfort zones.
“When Mike left for the USA to go back to work, I stayed alone in Spain. I had a lot of time to look around and analyze things that happened between us and sort out my priorities. I was able to understand where I want to move our relations' '- says Lana about her staying in Spain.
The next step was Lana’s going to the USA. Fortunately, in April 2022 America opened the borders to all Ukrainians who were able to cross by land from Mexico, giving them a humanitarian parole status. I encouraged Lana to cross the border and helped her with all the travel arrangements. I helped Mike to make Lana’s trip safe and comfortable. Lana was one of the last Ukrainians who were able to cross before the rules of the humanitarian parole changed. Lana’s trip from Spain to Mexico, her traveling from Matamoros to Tijuana, making friends among Ukrainian refugees, crossing the border, staying at Mike's brother’s house, and then traveling to reunite with Mike in Wyoming can serve as a good scenario for an action movie with a happy ending. “When I met Mike after my long and adventurous trip to the States, I realized that he was the dearest person on Earth to me”, Lana describes their meeting in the States. - “I understood the main thing: when Mike is near, my power and strength come back to me.”
Wyoming was a new comfort zone that Lana was going to embrace in her life. Coming from a city jungle into picturesque mountain scenarios and wide lands was quite a change, but Lana’s love for nature, inborn curiosity, and optimism made it easier for her.
“ We pronounced our wedding vows on top of a holy mountain. Native Americans lived there for centuries and cherished that mountain as a sacred place. We chose a special place for connecting our loving hearts and strengthening our union with blessings from nature and ancient legacy.” - Mike is commenting on their wedding.
Now Mike and Lana are building their new home in Wyoming. Lana has learned how to operate a bulldozer and while Mike is at work, she prepares their lot for construction.
Compromise, common sense, trust, and a deep understanding of each other turn their love and affection into a real and strong family bond.
Let God bless your family every day, and respond to all your prayers of love and peace, dear Lana and Mike. Your couple is a new big diamond in the family of our happy love stories.
I wish your family love, prosperity, and keeping your enthusiasm for turning every day into a holiday as you did it by now.