A Match Made in MOMS Club History

Chris’ son Anthony and Julie’s daughter Cameron

I met Julie Estes back in 2001 when I moved from Sacramento, CA to Richland, WA. She had just moved back into the area and was actively trying to get a MOMS Club off the ground. She had been a MOMS Club member since 1999 and I started in 1995 when my oldest, Anthony was just barely 1.

Julie has 3 daughters Cameron (25), Samantha (23) and Victoria (21). Mine are Anthony (26), Megan (23) and Jason (19). Cameron, Samantha and Anthony were always around each other. Megan and Victoria were inseparable. Poor Jason was the baby of the bunch and often was the attention of Megan and Victoria, that’s a story for another time.

We found ourselves a long way from my family and friends. I searched the MOMS Club website and saw that Julie was starting a new chapter in our area. I remember that first meeting that she had. It was just 3 of us committed to getting a chapter off the ground. The best part was that our kids hit it off immediately. Park days, swimming at the pool or playdates we knew that if we saw one kid we would find the other 2. Fun Fact: Conference Coordinator Theresa Tenney was our chapter’s Area Coordinator at that time.

My husband’s job took us to La Grande Oregon in 2005 and it was so hard to leave. Julie and I made it a point to get together as often as we could. The first year or so it was every few months, but as our kids got more involved in school and sports it was harder to get together. When we did see each other, the kids would pick up just like they have never been apart.

Anthony had just gotten a job with Union Pacific Railroad in 2016. He was told by the RR that he would have to go to Spokane, WA and work there temporarily. Spokane is about 4 hours from his house in La Grande. He had a day to show up and find a place to live. I mentioned to him that I thought that either Samantha or Cameron was living there and maybe he could crash on their couch. It had been a couple of years since they had seen each other. He called.

It was Cameron and she was nice enough to let him stay there. They reconnected and shortly after started dating. 20 years after first meeting in the MOMS Club, this past December Anthony proposed to Cameron and she said yes. I was lucky to be there to take pictures as he surprised her with a ring. February 2022 we will be having a wedding.

I have always said that some of my best friends have come from MOMS Club. Now I can say that I have met family from MOMS Club too.

P.S. Julie predicted this all those years ago.

Submitted by:
Chris Baldwin
Regional Coordinator