As many know, both of our lives were flipped upside down in April/May 2022. For awhile, we were both just trying to put together fragments of our lives, trying to make sense of it all. Time heals. It truly does.

Fifteen months later, on a hot summer day the end of July 2023, my aunt Susie thought it would be a perfect day for a backyard “pool party” at her place. She invited me over and later invited her neighbor Reid over. I thought he was cute and he thought I was nice. I couldn’t believe I was actually looking at a guy in that way again, but there was something about him that attracted me to him. Instantly. And he said he kept checking out “Gabe’s hot older sister”.

I drove back to Burlington that afternoon. I Facebook messaged Reid my cell number. He couldn’t take a hint and he messaged the next day. For the next 12 days, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I should be more forward and ask Reid out for a drink sometime. On August 8th 2023, I stepped COMPLETELY out of my comfort zone and gave it a shot…I texted this cute guy asking if he was seeing anyone and if he’d like to go out for drinks sometime. He responded back almost immediately…and the texts never stopped.

The next evening on August 9th 2023 around 8 pm, after COUNTLESS text exchanges, I texted him and asked if it was too late to invite him over to my house in Burlington. Nope. He got to my house around 10 pm and we talked on the couch for 4 hours. The communication was effortless and flowing. He left my house around 2 am and had to be to work at 6 am.

Love happens when you least expect it.

After that night, Reid said he felt like he knew me a lifetime and told himself that he needed to marry this girl. He claims he knew he loved me that day. I knew I loved him three days later when he sent me a text that completely swept me off my feet. This guy was the real deal…and the answer to my prayers.

He lit a spark within me again. I showed him how love should feel. We feel alive when we are together - we truly bring out the BEST in each other.

Some may think we moved fast, but when you know, YOU KNOW. He knew after the first day he wanted to marry me. I knew after three days, I wanted to marry him. Reid would always ask me what type of ring I wanted. And he told my brothers over and over that he was going to marry their sister. So one day in Minot, I took Reid to the jewelry store and picked out three ring options for him to choose from. On the day I sold my Burlington house, Reid dropped me off at my house one last time and he took Avie to the jewelry store. He let Avie pick out the final ring from the options I had given him.

After one year of dating, on August 9th 2024, Reid got down on one knee while we were having a backyard fire at our Lignite house and asked me to marry him. I joyously told him I would be honored to be Amanda Rose Arnold. Avie later told me she picked the ring she did because it had three bands on it…one for Reid, one for mom, and one for Avie.

The three of us are happy. Once upon a time, nothing made sense…at times, it still doesn’t and maybe never will. But we are making sense of what we know, choosing to move forward with what we believe. We believe we all deserve happiness. I love Reid. Avie loves Reid. Reid loves us. Love conquers all.

I’m so thankful I took a shot and asked this cute guy out for a drink…here we are, planning ALL of our tomorrows. Who would’ve thought? Reid, we may not be each others first love, first kiss, first sight, or first date but I just want to be your last everything. Looking forward to sharing your last name on August 9th, 2025. Love you today…and all of our tomorrows.