Anissa’s Version:

You know that love at first site feeling? Well that wasn’t exactly the case for Grant and I. It was more like a love that grew from having a best friend you want to do everything with first, and then finally trusting him to also have your heart when realizing you don’t want to share it with anyone else. It was a love that grows naturally and organically when you aren’t even looking for them as your forever person. It just developed over time before our eyes. It wasn’t forced, it wasn’t awkward, and I feel so blessed that it fell naturally right into place as God had intended.

But let’s start from the beginning. It’s the beginning of 2020, I’ve moved to a new state, I know no one, and then COVID hits. I’m alone in my one bedroom one bathroom apartment, but thankfully it’s warm and sunny so I get to explore the new city as my introverted self.

It wasn’t until March that Michigan shut down completely, and my lovely extrovert of a sister came to stay with me for “2 weeks”. At one point Ashley asked me if I had any friends or knew anyone in the apartment complex, I responded with well not really. She told me this was weird, but I was content with doing my own thing in this time of unknowns.

It wasn’t until April 9, 2020 that the two of our lives would be changed forever. Ashley had brought childhood games down with her to keep us occupied during all of our free time. One morning we decided to bring our chairs to the courtyard since they had closed down our pool. We were just laying out playing battleship, when we spotted two pretty attractive men who seemed to be around our age. Ashley asked if I knew them. I told her I had never seen them before.

Shortly following this conversation we were asked if we knew how to play volleyball, were any good at it, and if we wanted to play later. Ashley automatically chimed in and said yes and gave out “my number”. I wasn’t too thrilled that she chose to give these strangers my number, but I did respond to the text and agreed to meet out front at 3pm and hop into a rusted, beat up, old green jeep.

All I could think was what in the world are we doing? We don’t know these random two guys, it’s COVID, is this even safe, why did I let my little sister make this choice?…well here goes nothing. I decided to hop into a vehicle that may have broken down on us at any given second, and kept thinking this is against my better judgment.

This little volleyball outing was a haul across the town. Were these guys just kidnapping us? Who knows, but we were in it for the long run now. Following a full day of competitive volleyball on a secluded sand court, we got take out Mexican food and to go margaritas, and spent the rest of the night together back at the apartment complex.

We all laughed, listened to music, and talked for hours. This day together turned into a streak of days, weeks, and then months of hanging out every day non stop after finishing school work, studying for boards, and treating virtual patients. These two men became our best friends. We did everything together and essentially got to relive our childhood riding bikes, playing volleyball, paddle boarding, going on runs, hiking, playing wiffle ball, working out, etc.

Ashleys 2 week stay soon turned into 8 months. Ashley had developed a pretty quick and strong relationship with Connor. However, I still wasn’t as trusting of Grant. I felt like I was just the convenient other sister in the mix. It wasn’t until about 9 months of really getting to know Grant that I realized I wasn’t just the convenient other Stanitzek sister to him.

Over these 9 months, Grant had truly become my best friend. I realized he complimented me in all of the right ways. He not only loved everything I liked to do, but he also challenged me in life. He made me become a better version of myself. He made me a more optimistic and loving human. He showed me what it was like to truly enjoy life, let loose, and love again. He was a gift sent to me from God, and I will never take this encounter for granted.

However, I had to gain his trust a little again since I had continued to deny him and shut down his attempts at becoming more than friends early on in our friendship, but eventually he agreed to my request of taking him on a date on 1/11/2021. We went to a spot downtown Charleston called Tempest, had a wonderful dinner, great conversation, and I think I won him over at my last attempt that night.

There are many more adventures and memories that led us to where we are today, but to think this man I met during COVID in a time full of unknowns became my best friend, rock, and now my husband to be, in just shy of a year, is something truly remarkable and special.

So thank you for being a part of our journey. In one way, shape, or form you have played a part in who Grant and I are today, and we can’t wait for you to be a part of our special day!

Grant’s Version:

It was several weeks into COVID 2020 during my 2nd year of PA school when we were supposed to be completing our clinical rotations. Instead we were now completing our clinical rotations virtually from home. The day was April 9th to be exact, and I had just finished some of my morning school work that had become part of the daily routine which came from the online virtual assignments.

As jumbled as the world seemed, my classmate friends and I soon learned to make the best of the situation by completing our assignments as soon as possible, and then spending the rest of our time outside exploring and enjoying the nice weather.

I was lying outside relaxing in the courtyard, as our pool was technically closed due to COVID, before getting ready to go play beach volleyball with my classmates. This had become our little refuge during the beginning of quarantine. I was outside with my buddy Connor who ironically is now the best man in law at our wedding. We spent many days and hours enjoying the nice weather out in the courtyard by the pool, but today was different as we noticed these 2 girls, Anissa and Ashley, who we have never seen before also lying out enjoying the nice weather.

We were both on the same page that we had to ask them to come play volleyball with us. Connor being able to talk to anyone and everything made it happen. Thankfully they agreed to play!

I will always remember the feeling as I was getting ready to go play and bring the girls with us that I had never been so excited about something for a long time. I definitely do not think that the girls knew what they were getting themselves into as we ended up playing volleyball for probably 8+ hours and ended the day back at my apartment eating "to go tacos and margaritas" at 11:00 p.m.

It was one of my favorite days that I will always remember. That day was just the beginning of many new adventures together and becoming close to one another in a very short time.

Anissa and I in some way, shape, or form ended up hanging out together for what felt like all day everyday for the next 3-4 months. For as difficult and challenging of a time that COVID was, we truly made the most of it by adventuring on paddle boards, exploring local trails, riding bikes and playing games that felt like being kids on summer break. In a way we essentially got to relieve our childhood as an adult for several months.

It was the 1st time I had met someone who loved so many of the similar outdoors activities as I did, had the same if not higher level of competitive spirit, same and even higher level of attention in many daily chores and routines, and was certainly not afraid to give me a hard time and keep me in my place.

As the months went on, Anissa was quickly becoming my new best friend even after the transition back to the post COVID reality, and the person I wanted to spend my time with. Not only was she becoming my best friend, but she was also becoming someone who I had significant feelings for.

After several unsuccessful attempts of trying to become more than just friends, I had resigned to the fact that "good friends" was going to have to suffice. It wasn’t until several months later, probably about 9 months after initially meeting, that she finally came to her senses and decided to give me a chance.

Although I was ready to move on, my true feelings for her still existed, and I was excited by her change of heart. We decided that it only made sense to give it a try and reassured ourselves that we would still be great friends even if a relationship did not work out.

I am thankful to say that over 4 years of friendship and 3 years of dating, we do not have to worry about it " not working out".

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