We’ve known each other for a long time, but it wasn’t until later in life that we discovered something truly special.

Jeff, my brother Kurt, and my sister-in-law, Robin have been friends for over 20 years, and I’ve known Jeff just as long, often seeing him at family gatherings and holiday get-togethers. At the time, we were both married with kids, so our interactions were friendly but casual—just part of the family circle.

As life went on, things changed. I went through a divorce and moved to the other side of town, closer to family and friends. Not long after, Kurt and Robin came to visit me, and while we were catching up, Kurt casually mentioned, "You know, Jeff Beasley lives really close to here." Little did I know, that small comment would be the spark that ignited a whole new chapter for us.

A few months later, Kurt and Robin invited me to a casual get-together at Jeff’s house. I brought my dog, Frank, and we all hung out on the back patio. It was a fun, laid-back evening, and I didn’t expect anything more than just a nice time with friends. But as the night was winding down, Jeff, in his typical friendly way, said, "I know a really great pizza place near here. We should get pizza, neighbor."

A few days later, Jeff called to follow through on the pizza invitation, and that’s when our first ‘date’ really began. I was a little confused—was this just two friends hanging out, or was something more developing? He kept calling me "neighbor," and we talked about the struggles of dating in general, but something about that evening felt different. The moment that stuck with me was when Jeff leaned back in his chair and casually said, "Just so you know, I love Jesus."

That night, before he dropped me off, Jeff leaned in and kissed me, and from that moment on, our friendship began to evolve into something deeper. We started spending more time together—watching football games, cooking meals, and talking about everything from our hopes and dreams to my favorite (and sometimes outlandish) conspiracy theories. We found ourselves sitting by the fire on the patio, talking about life, and slowly, our bond grew stronger.

Jeff taught me how to cook for one (a lifesaver!), and he helped me figure out that Frank, my dog, had separation anxiety. Through everything—funny moments, tough conversations, and even personal challenges—our friendship blossomed into love.

One day, after a particularly difficult period of health struggles, I crawled into Jeff’s hospital bed and told him how much I loved him. It felt like the right moment—after everything we had been through together, I knew that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him. And thankfully, he felt the same way.

Then, on October 5, 2024, Jeff surprised me with a trip to Lover’s Knoll in Sedona, Arizona. I had no idea what was coming—I was in my pajamas, just enjoying the beautiful sunset. But as the sun dipped below the horizon, Jeff got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. Of course, I said yes. It was the perfect moment to mark the beginning of our next adventure together.

We are so excited to share this next chapter with our family and friends and can’t wait to celebrate our love on this special day. Thank you for being a part of our journey!