Love story: Couple has eye on big picture

Maya Murphy, 28, believes in setting goals. She recently completed her first triathlon and started an investment firm with her husband, Dave Murphy. Her most treasured long-term goal also involves Dave.

She said, “Several years ago at my grandpa’s funeral, my grandma told me, ‘We were married for 61 years and I still liked him.’ I thought – I want to do that! That’s when I set my goal of a 50th wedding anniversary.”

The only problem? She was single at the time.

And then three years ago, at a Thai restaurant in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., she sat across the table from a handsome Air Force pilot. Surrounded by a large group of mutual friends, the two noticed each other but didn’t engage in conversation.

Maya worked as a financial analyst for a defense contractor and Dave was stationed nearby at Hurlburt Field. As fate would have it, they ran into each other again at a local church. “I was attending a young adult Bible study at St. Mary’s and Maya showed up with her best friend,” Dave said.

When Maya found out Dave was deploying to Afghanistan she gave her friend a note with her email address and asked that she give it to Dave.

He emailed her and thus began a flurry of exchanges. “The whole time he was gone we emailed back and forth. That’s how we got to know each other,” Maya said.

She also sent him quirky care packages. From their living room at Fairchild Air Force Base, Dave laughed. “She sent a pooping penguin!”

Maya grinned and explained, “Nothing says I care like a pooping penguin! He pooped chocolate candy.”

When Dave returned, he immediately asked her out. “This is embarrassing,” he said. “Our first date was at T.G.I. Friday’s on a Monday night. Not that romantic.”

But before that date occurred, the couple had a long phone conversation that covered topics from religion to relationships. Dave said, “We talked about all the stuff you’re not supposed to talk about before we had our first date.” At 37, he said he’d had too many relationships go wrong because of differences on the big issues. He didn’t want that to happen again.

And he’s quick to point out that while the setting for their first date lacked romance, he made it up on date No. 2.

Maya agreed. “We went out for sushi and had our first kiss.”

That was in January 2010. Maya invited Dave to join her in San Antonio over Easter to meet her family. “I liked him already,” she said. “I had a big crush on him.”

They continued dating, and Dave was deployed twice that summer. When he finally returned he asked Maya to spend Christmas with his family in Royal City, Wash. The trip was a revelation for the Texas-bred lady.

“I’d never had a white Christmas,” she said. “I’d never been sledding before!”

When they returned to Florida, Dave made plans. “I had to go to San Antonio for training, so I arranged a meeting with her dad.” Dave smiled. “He kind of knew what I wanted to talk to him about. We had an hourlong discussion and I asked for his daughter’s hand in marriage.”

The couple had talked about marriage and even looked at rings, but Dave wanted to make sure he had her father’s blessing before popping the question.

On Feb. 18, 2011, Dave took Maya to a romantic restaurant on San Antonio’s River Walk. At the end of their meal, Maya said, “That was perfect.” Dave seized the opportunity. He said, “Speaking of perfect, I think you’re perfect. Will you marry me?”

During their engagement, he was hired by the Washington Air National Guard, so while Dave settled in at his new job, Maya did the wedding planning.

They married Aug. 13, 2011 – her parent’s 34th wedding anniversary. One week later, Dave was deployed – again. He’s been to Afghanistan nine times. Their honeymoon had to wait.

He returned just in time for Thanksgiving, and after spending Christmas with Maya’s family, the couple took their delayed honeymoon. “We spent three weeks in Australia and New Zealand,” Maya said. “I got to hold a koala and pet a kangaroo!”

They moved to Spokane in January and are looking forward to celebrating their second wedding anniversary this summer. Only 48 more to go before they reach Maya’s long-term goal. And they believe they’ve got what it takes to make it.

Dave said what he most appreciates about his wife is her ability to forgive. “I screw up, but she doesn’t hold anything over my head. I know she loves me for who I am.” He flashed her a sidelong grin. “And she’s hot!”

Maya laughed. She said their commitment to each other is what enables them to work through seemingly impossible situations. “I know I’m stuck with him and he’s stuck with me anyway, so we better figure this thing out. If not, it’s going to be a long 50 years!”

She offers this advice to single folks: “God promises that if we come to him, he will give us the desires of our hearts. He means it. When I stopped looking and gave it to God, I found Dave, and he fits everything I wanted plus a few extras.”