Right from the beginning, at my cousin's high school graduation party in June 2020 where I was the DJ, Audrey's kindness and genuine warmth immediately stood out. We easily connected, engaging in conversations that quickly went beyond the surface to meaningful topics. It was as if our souls had been acquainted long before that night, ready to embark on a journey together.

Our journey took its first step with a hike up Pyramid Point, a place that would etch itself into the fabric of our story. There, under the sprawling canvas of a setting sun, our first date unfolded—a promise of many more to come. Our love story, however, was not without its trials. The distance that stretched between us while I was at High Point University in North Carolina and she was studying in Fort Myers, Florida, tested our resolve. Yet, love knows no bounds, and in 2022, I moved to Fort Myers, closing the distance that had long separated us. In June of 2023, our family grew by four paws with the arrival of Odin, which further cemented our bond.

The thread of our tale looped back to Pyramid Point on July 2nd, where amidst the serenity of our special place, I planned a surprise that would mark the beginning of our forever. With Odin and my cousins—the inadvertent matchmakers— in hiding, I led Audrey back to the spot where it all began. As they discreetly marked an 'X' in the sand, destiny's spot for us to stand, I waited for the perfect moment. With Audrey's attention momentarily elsewhere, I knelt, heart in hand, and asked her to be mine forever. The joy that lit up her face as she said "Yes" was a moment frozen in time, a testament to our love's enduring strength.

As we stand on the threshold of a new chapter, ready to weave our lives together more tightly, we look back on the journey that brought us here with gratitude. Our story is a testament to the serendipitous moments that guide us to where we're meant to be, the enduring power of love to overcome distance, and the shared dreams that pave our path forward. Together, we step into the future, our hearts intertwined, ready to embrace whatever adventures lie ahead, hand in hand.

-Rand