2025 Love List

Lili Hernandez & Ashley Hiebing, Madison, 9 years
Shammara McMullin & Ziggy Odogun-Williams, Madison, 3 years
DJ Nichols & Lee Stratton, Oshkosh, 9 years
Danny Atwater & Sid Richards, Madison, 6.5 years
Mandy & Mel Smith-Tourville & Sarah Barkdull, Menomonie, 20 Years & 1 Year

This is a love story that began in 2022 when we were both in very uncomfortable positions in life personally, emotionally, and mentally. We came together at a moment where life left us very uncertain of the future.

How would I, Ziggy, describe our love? I would describe it as infinite, unwavering, and one that is dreamt about. It sometimes feels out of reach because of how rare this love can be. In our life together, we have found a form of partnership, best friendship, and companionship that we never knew could exist. We have a passion that burns daily for one another, our love is proof that one can change their entire life, discarding that which does not serve them in the midst of pursuing a life in an unforeseen reality. In the past three years, we have gone from passing strangers, to friends, to lovers which has then transpired to life partners, complete with a family under one roof in our new home.

While uplifting each other, we hold one another accountable through acknowledgement of daily reminders related to our lifelong nesting commitments. We are vehemently in love with the privilege of facing challenges together, pushing one another into growth, as well as being effective communicators about maintaining this lifelong relationship. We have found a partnership that knows no boundaries or limits in what we choose to pursue to better ourselves, each other, and our communities. How would I, Shammara, describe our love? Vivid, joyful, fun, fiery, uplifting, truthful, and growth-filled. With Ziggy by my side, I have had the courage to completely upend the life that I was living to pursue an authentic, albeit sometimes scary, yet limitless life. Her love is so intense and unwavering. I feel firmly grounded in our foundation yet limitless with possibility. With her, I see life clearer. I have found my heart, and my home. It is important to stress that with a love like ours followed by the decision to grow as one, maintaining a relationship like this one is not for the faint hearted. Our desire to grow together is unmatched and like no other. The adaptability and clarity that a successful relationship takes is one that comes from continued education through therapy, sharing quality time, purposeful intimacy, and radical self awareness. We are in tune with what we need individually, which helps us both see what our counterpart may need at a moment’s notice. Our relationship has allowed us to practice gratitude, healing, and vulnerability, and it has opened up a world for us where we can unapologetically embrace self love and rejuvenation. We are best friends, lovers, and partners, but most importantly, we truly enjoy each other’s company. We aren’t foolish to think that love is the only factor that brought us together. We’re aware that the reason we work well is of our ability to dig a little deeper than our minds want us to sometimes. We do the work and choose to live a life of freedom and peace.