I still remember the first time I saw her—Rebecca. I thought she was a total nerd: awkward and introverted. I wasn’t wrong—but as our friendship grew stronger, those things only made me like her more. We started getting closer through late-night gaming sessions, spontaneous car rides, and grabbing food together.

When Christmas came around—our favorite holiday—I realized that those once-a-week hangouts had quietly turned into something much deeper. I was falling in love.

On January 14th, while waiting for our friends at the mall, we sat at Thomas Hammer sipping coffee, talking more than usual. We began to imagine what it might be like if we dated. We didn’t know how it would work with the distance between us, but something felt right.

We started going on dates once a week—sometimes watching shows, other times going out to our favorite restaurants like Red Robin. We also loved cooking together, and I’ll never forget the first thing we made as a couple: BBQ chicken mac 'n' cheese.

We talked about everything—from our biggest dreams to the tiniest preferences. We discovered we both wanted four kids, had similar timelines for buying a house, shared a love for huckleberry ice cream, and even had the same dream cars. I realized very quickly just how much we had in common.

When we finally moved in together, I came to appreciate her on a whole new level. I got to see her every day—through the highs, the lows, and all the in-between moments that make up real life. We built so many beautiful memories together.

Now, as we prepare to get married, I’m beyond excited to spend the rest of my life with her—growing our family, building our home, and continuing to grow together, side by side.