When Love Finds You in Peace: The Story of Chad and Jen

Chad Stillwagon and Jennifer Drews, contributors to The Peace Guidebook

For many years, both Chad and Jen wondered if the kind of love you see in movies—the kind with a true happily-ever-after—was something that would ever find its way into their lives.

Jen had spent twelve years in a toxic marriage, followed by another twelve years navigating the difficult and often discouraging world of dating. Time and again, the deep connection she hoped for seemed just out of reach. Still, she never gave up hope that somewhere out there was someone who would truly match her heart.

In May of 2025, Jen attended the Dream Builder Live Experience. During one of the exercises, she wrote down exactly what she wanted in her next relationship. She envisioned a deep and meaningful connection with someone she was attracted to both physically and emotionally—someone who could make her laugh, who would treat their relationship as a priority, and who loved dogs. She held onto that vision and carried it with her for the next six weeks.

Meanwhile, Chad was on his own life-changing journey.

About four years earlier, he had been diagnosed with colon cancer. The treatment involved chemotherapy and multiple surgeries, and complications from one of the procedures led to nearly two years of additional health challenges. After finally recovering, Chad began to reflect deeply on his life. The experience made one thing very clear: life was too short to spend it in a relationship without true love.

After nearly thirty years of marriage, he made the difficult decision to move forward on his own and begin a new chapter.

As he worked through that transition, Chad reconnected with someone from his past—his old elementary school classmate, Elizabeth Hamilton (Guarino). Though he knew she was a successful author, he soon learned she was also a talented life coach. Through several months of coaching sessions, Elizabeth helped Chad do some serious self-reflection and soul-searching. By the end of their work together, Chad felt something he hadn’t felt in a long time—peace with himself and confidence in his path forward.

He no longer felt like he needed someone else to complete his life.

That’s when Elizabeth told him about a friend she thought he should meet.

Her name was Jen.

At first, Chad hesitated. After all the work he had done to become comfortable being on his own, he wasn’t sure he was ready to jump into something new. But Elizabeth had a strong feeling about the introduction.

So on Thursday, June 19, she sent a Facebook message that simply said: “Jen, meet Chad. Chad, meet Jen. You two should go out to lunch.”

Jen laughed at the suggestion of “lunch,” but she replied politely: “Hi Chad, nice to meet you,” and left the next move to him.

Within minutes, Chad reached out privately with a simple “Hi,” and what followed was a conversation that lasted nearly an hour. They quickly discovered how much they had in common and made plans to meet the following Tuesday night. After saying goodnight and exchanging phone numbers, Jen did what most people would do—she immediately checked out his Facebook profile. What she saw made her smile: he was handsome, active, and clearly loved dogs.

Over the next several days, they texted and even talked on the phone—something that had become rare in modern dating but felt refreshing and natural to both of them. With each conversation, the excitement grew. They both sensed a connection forming.

When Tuesday finally arrived and Jen walked into the restaurant, she was instantly smitten. Chad was tall, handsome, and greeted her with a warm hug that somehow felt familiar—almost like coming home.

The feeling was mutual. The chemistry between them was undeniable, the kind both had been missing for a very long time.

Ironically, they later realized they had lived only ten minutes apart for nearly a decade, yet it took a mutual friend living all the way in Maine to bring them together.

As their relationship grew, they continued learning about each other—the things that made them laugh, what made them happy, and how to support one another through life’s challenges. Both had come from difficult marriages where open communication had been nearly impossible. This time, they made honesty and understanding a priority. Their commitment to communicating openly only strengthened the bond between them.

A few weeks into their relationship, something unexpected happened: both Chad and Jen were selected to be featured in The Peace Guidebook, an honor that reflected the personal growth and transformation they had each experienced before finding one another.

Seven months after their first date, they took another big step and moved in together in Jen’s 976-square-foot condo. Combining two households is never easy, but they approached it with teamwork and love. Their relationship wasn’t about keeping score—it was about giving their best to each other every day.

For them, it wasn’t 50/50.

It was 100/100.

Chad loves doing the little things that make Jen smile, like making her coffee every morning. Jen loves the way he makes her laugh and always treats their relationship as a priority. Together, they’ve built a partnership rooted in kindness, respect, and joy.

Their lives have continued to intertwine in beautiful ways. Jen has grown close to Chad’s three children and his parents, and Chad has developed a strong bond with Jen’s family as well. They even welcomed a puppy into their lives, which only brought them closer.

Recently, they took another exciting step forward together—purchasing a home where they’ll begin the next chapter of their journey.

Looking back, both Chad and Jen believe that everything they went through—the hardships, the lessons, and the years of searching—prepared them for the moment they finally met. At first, they wondered if they should have met decades earlier. But now they see it differently.

They met exactly when they were meant to.

And neither of them has ever been happier.

A Story of Peace

Chad and Jen’s story isn’t just a love story.

It’s a story about peace.

Because the truth is, they didn’t find each other until they first found peace within themselves.

They didn’t rush into something to fill a void.

They stepped into something from a place of wholeness.

That’s what made the difference.

It’s also why their story is included in The Peace Guidebook.

As contributors to the book, Chad and Jen represent something we believe deeply:

Peace isn’t just something you feel when life is calm.

It’s something you create within yourself.

And when you do, it changes the way you connect with others.

Oh, and they also got peace tatoos!!

A Reminder for All of Us

Chad and Jen’s story is a reminder that love doesn’t always come when we expect it.

Sometimes it comes when we’ve done the work.

When we’ve learned who we are.

When we’ve made peace with where we’ve been.

And when we’re finally ready to receive something real.

Their story is not about perfection.

It’s about timing. It’s about growth. It’s about choosing love from a place of peace.

And in a world that often feels rushed and uncertain, that kind of love is not only possible…

It’s powerful.

With love,

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino and Dr. Katie Eastman with Chad Stillwagon and Jennifer Drews