Blake and I met all the way back in elementary school. We grew up in the same city and went to the same elementary school for a while and the same high school. We were re-introduced to each other our freshman year of high school. We immediately hit it off, and after texting each other for a little bit, Blake asked me on a date to the movies the day before Thanksgiving. Luckily, I was in town and was very excited to go on a date with him! As you can imagine, being 14 years old and going out on a first date was a little awkward, but nevertheless, we had a great time! Cut to a couple weeks later and Blake asked me to be his girlfriend on December 10th, 2013, before having to go catch the school bus. We would spend the next 4 years of high school meeting each other between classes and spending weekends together.

After high school, I went to the University of Georgia and Blake started college at Georgia State University, where he would then transfer to the University of West Georgia. This started the stent of our long distance relationship. While we both agree that long distance is one of the hardest things we have gone through, I cannot say enough about how hard we both worked to keep our relationship. Blake and I would take turns visiting each other on weekends, but I will admit that Blake was usually a little more willing to spontaneously visit or visit multiple weekends in a row. I honestly think it helped us become stronger as a couple.

After constantly nagging Blake about when we were going to get engaged, sending pictures of rings that I loved, and making comments every time someone we knew got engaged (sorry, Blake, you know I am inpatient), on November 24th, 2022 (Thanksgiving Day), he finally popped the question! He managed to surprise me (which I thought would never happen since he can’t keep a secret from me to save his life), and we were surrounded and celebrated by my family.

It is amazing to think of how far we have come as individuals and together. We survived the impossible by staying together through high school and long-distance in college. We can finally see the end of dating and the beginning of the rest of our lives in sight as we approach our wedding in June of 2024! I am beyond lucky to be marrying my high school sweetheart and best friend!