Our story begins with a simple yet intriguing text: each of us received a picture of the other with the question, “Do you think he/she is cute?” Little did we know that this was the clever work of my sister-in-law and brother, who were playing matchmaker behind the scenes. When we both replied “yes,” it set off a series of events that would change our lives.

After a few chats, Tyler reached out one day with an invitation for coffee. There was just one catch: Tyler was stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base in Warrensburg, MO, while I was in Tulsa, OK, over four hours away. Undeterred by the distance, he made the incredible decision to drive 4.5 hours to meet me for a two-hour coffee date, only to turn around and drive back that same night. That date was nothing short of magical, but with the miles between us, we wouldn’t see each other again for another month. This time, we chose to meet halfway in Joplin, MO, where we played our first game of mini golf—an event I’m still trying to figure out how he managed to win! After sharing our first kiss that day, we knew we had crossed a special threshold together.

But the distance brought its fair share of hiccups. The biggest being that Tyler wasn’t always the most responsive(and I am the queen of overthinking), and I found myself navigating the occasional silence and wondering what was going on in his mind. But as luck would have it, his wonderful sister Gabbie stepped in one day and introduced herself which I have adored her for ever since. One day, I received a text from her apologizing for her brother’s behavior and reassuring me that he was still learning the ropes of this whole relationship thing. I had to laugh so hard and I knew right then that we would be great friends!

Despite the bumps along the way, we soon started making the four-hour trek to see each other every couple of weeks, eventually escalating to every other week. Juggling our busy schedules—Tyler with working on weekdays and me with working on weekends—often meant spending time at one another's homes while the other worked. From our very first date, we felt like two puzzle pieces perfectly fitting together, a connection that only deepened with time. So, while being so far apart was hard, it was well worth it when we finally got to see one another again.

In April 2024, Tyler came to visit me in Tulsa, and it turned out to be one of the most perfect days. We explored fun shops, discovered an amazing ice cream place, and later enjoyed a lovely dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. But as we drove home, I noticed Tyler kept sighing—almost excessively, which made me curious. I asked him repeatedly what was on his mind, but he kept saying, “Wait until we get back home.” Deep down, I might have suspected what was coming, and soon enough, when we arrived, I found Tyler down on one knee, trying to find the words to ask me to marry him. For once, it seemed my usually articulate boyfriend was utterly speechless. I’ll never forget that moment, and of course, I said yes!

Our celebration was bittersweet; the next morning, I left for work while Tyler drove back to Missouri. But love knows no bounds, and we continued our back-and-forth journeys until June when we took a huge step together: we bought a house and I moved to Missouri.

People often warned me about the importance of living together before marriage, and I took their advice seriously. But with Tyler, it’s been a dream come true. Sure, we annoy each other from time to time, but after just four months of living together, I can’t imagine not sharing this space with him. We’ve settled into a lovely routine that feels as if we’ve been together forever, filling our days with laughter, love, and the kind of joy that makes every moment feel like home.