L OV E A N T H R O P O L O G Y
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MEET THE JESPERSENS How did you meet? We met in a media scrum in Red Deer in 2004. We were both working as news reporters for competing radio stations, which made for an interesting dynamic out of the gates! There was an immediate attraction, but one of us (Kari) wasn't "on the market," so to speak, so it took a while for our eventual love to blossom.
What I love about our spirit/ spirituality. We operate very much "in tune" with each other. We experienced similar upbringings, and on the "spirituality" front, our journeys have aligned. The dynamic of our relationship is an inquisitive, openminded one, and it makes for interesting, challenging, enriching conversations.
How long have you been together/ married? We dated for a couple of years before getting married at Playa Potrero, Costa Rica on March 22, 2009.
The three most important components of our relationship are honesty, integrity, and mutual respect.
When did you realize you were in love with your partner? We shared a very memorable moment relatively early in our dating life. Sitting in a Red Deer lounge, sipping on martinis, I (Ryan) realized I'd never felt "this way" about anybody before, and the words "I'm falling in love with you" just spilled out! You can imagine my relief when the sentiment was reciprocated!
What sort of routines or traditions do you hold in high regard? We dedicate specific family time each week, where we focus solely on each other, and quality moments without interruption. We cherish meals around the family dinner table, which was my maternal grandparents' table for decades before we inherited it. It's a special piece that's seen many meaningful moments! We love to stay active as a family (skating, snowboarding, dog walking), and we love to debrief together in the hot tub after a long day. (Our six-yearold son Wyatt controls the jets!)
What is the best piece of relationship advice anyone has ever given you? Listen. Truly listen. Do you have children? Our son Wyatt is six, and he's excited to be a big brother in June 2022! (No, we don't know if it's a boy or a girl...) What aspect of your relationship changed after you had children, and how much? Of course, adding a child to the mix changes virtually everything, but the changes were all for the good! We've spent more time together as a family unit, our "downtime" is much more precious (and frequent), and our communication and collaboration ("teamwork") has dramatically improved... Because it has to when you become a parent! We've prioritized date nights whenever possible, to ensure we still share quality time as a couple. What was your most meaningful moment of true relationship inspiration? I'll never forget our trip to Chicago in 2007. Kari surprised me for my 40th birthday, and it was an incredible four days together. An outdoor concert (Jack Johnson), a Cubs game, improv at the famed
