Most love stories start with a meet-cute. Ours started in a high school science class, where Mat was the cool jock who somehow balanced being a little punkish and effortlessly good at school (without trying). Bernadette, on the other hand, was the rebellious goody-two-shoes—not by choice, but because she could never get away with things the way he could. There was a spark, but life had different plans. She transferred schools, he joined the military, and for a while, it seemed like just another fleeting moment of youth.

But life has a funny way of bringing the right people back together.

Over the years, Mat would pop into Bernadette’s messages, a quiet but persistent presence, always making sure she was somewhere in his orbit. But timing never seemed quite right—until one day, she finally decided to see what had been right in front of her all along. One message turned into a conversation, which turned into Mat on her doorstep with cinnamon rolls at midnight. And just like that, something that had been simmering for years finally started to take shape.

Those first few months were all about rediscovering each other. Bernadette, always the social butterfly, thrived on new experiences and lively company, while Mat was more reserved, preferring a quieter pace. Their differences complemented each other, drawing them into a balance neither had quite realized they needed.

One day, after discovering Mat’s love for RC cars, Bernadette decided to take him to a local hobby shop—one that held sentimental value, as her late uncle had worked there for years. As they walked in, Mat’s eyes lit up with recognition. It was the same shop his dad used to bring him and his brothers to as kids. While they browsed, Mat mentioned his dad, Chip, and, to their surprise, the longtime employee, Eddie, immediately recognized him from how often they had visited. It was a surreal moment—almost like it was meant to be. Without even knowing it, they had been circling each other’s worlds for years. Looking back, it felt like God had been writing their story long before they even knew.

It was easy, it was effortless, and before long, Mat was driving home every single weekend until, one morning in February, he casually asked if she had any Valentine’s Day plans. She didn’t. He asked her out.

That night, he told her to dress nice, picked her up, and drove to her favorite Thai restaurant—but instead of dining in, he took their food to go and kept driving. She watched, confused, as he passed her house, turned into familiar streets, and made his way up into Covina Hills—a spot they had driven to a few weeks before after a date that neither of them wanted to end. She hadn’t realized how much that night had meant to him. But there they sat, on lawn chairs overlooking the valley, eating takeout and talking for hours. He surprised her by staying an extra day, and the next morning, Mat asked to make things official. In true Bernadette fashion, she needed it spelled out—"Make what official?" Cue an eye roll, followed by the words: "Will you be my girlfriend?"

She absolutely would.

Their love was strong, steady, and built on deep understanding—but fate had another challenge in store.

As their relationship deepened, After graduating with her bachelor's during COVID, Bernadette was in the process of applying for law enforcement when an unexpected opportunity changed everything. She was recruited for a full-time traveling job, running and operating multi-million dollar restaurants. It was an incredible offer, one that came with endless possibilities, and Mat never hesitated in encouraging her to take it. And just like that, their long-distance journey expanded from a few hours apart to being states away.

The transition was anything but easy. Mat had moved to Utah, leaving behind everything familiar, and Bernadette was now adjusting to life on the road, having only ever lived in her childhood home with her family. The high-pressure job, the new routines, the distance—it was a growing pain for both of them. But again, their resilience made it work. The little things Mat did to show his love from afar deepened their connection even more. They took every opportunity to visit one another, exploring new places together. One of their most cherished trips was to Sedona, AZ, where, after a long day of adventure, they stood on the deck of their Airbnb, dancing under the stars. In that quiet moment, wrapped in each other’s arms, Bernadette had never felt safer or more loved.

They made it work through daily calls, visits every few weeks, and handwritten letters they sent to each other. Even on the most exhausting days, they still made time for each other—sometimes by simply sharing a meal over FaceTime or watching their shows separately but together, just to feel close. They kept each other grounded with monthly check-in calls, using the time to ask repeating questions—a pulse check on how they were feeling about their support, care for one another, and their relationship as a whole. There was no one defining moment that made them realize this was worth it—it was the many small moments of building resilience together. The simple truth was, if they could get through this, they could get through anything.

Mat’s unwavering patience and strength, paired with Bernadette’s emotional depth, became the foundation of their relationship. He gave her a safe space to express her needs, always ready to support her. She, in turn, challenged him to see the best in others while he helped her establish boundaries. Their differences were what made them whole, balancing each other in ways they never expected.

Which brings us to the proposal.

Bernadette knew Mat had a ring. What she didn’t know was when he would pop the question. When she flew out to visit him in Utah, they planned a picture-perfect day in Park City—window shopping (an exhausting amount, by Mat’s standards), trying new restaurants, making memories. They hadn’t thought to check the seasonal schedule, assuming the town would be in full swing since it had already snowed. But it was off-season, meaning nothing was open until 5 PM. With time to kill and a furniture delivery to catch, they wandered the shops until heading home, where his friend Nick had secretly been setting up a rose-filled apartment in their absence. But, of course, it could not be that simple.

As they walked up to his apartment, Mat suddenly insisted Bernadette put her bags down outside. Naturally, she questioned it. Extensively. Why outside? What about their cat, Lava? By now, Nick should have already put her in a safe space. Mat, caught between her curiosity and his plan, removed her bags from her hands, did his best to herd her toward the door, and just as she was finally about to step inside—a drink tipped over near her purse and the shopping bag with her ring in it.

Now, any normal person might have ignored it. But Bernadette, having just bought herself a new ring that day, panicked, thinking it was about to get ruined. Meanwhile, the actual ring she had been waiting for sat safely in Mat’s back pocket, while she unknowingly delayed her own proposal. Once the crisis was averted, Mat—**relieved, yet painfully aware that she was adding more time to his nerves—**gently pushed her through the door.

And that was when she saw it. Roses everywhere. Nick in the corner, recording the moment. Mat, on one knee, finally able to ask the question he had been waiting to ask for years.

She cried. She said yes. And just like that, every mile, every challenge, every hard day apart had led to this moment. To them.

Their love has never been about ease—it has been about resilience, about choosing each other, over and over again, even when life made it hard. And that is what makes them so sure.

Now, they cannot wait to celebrate this next adventure with all of you.