Cody and I first crossed paths through a mutual friend while I was working at Natural State Smoothies during the COVID-19 pandemic in July. I had invited our mutual friend to a small gathering and encouraged him to bring along anyone he wanted. That evening, Cody walked in, and from that moment, we clicked and became instant friends. After a couple of dates, we officially started dating in January of 2021. During our first year of dating, we spent a lot of time going to JJs with our friends and going to the dog park with our dogs.

In May 2022, I received the exciting news of my acceptance into graduate school, which happened to be two hours away. Uncertain about how a long-distance relationship would unfold, we decided to give it a shot. Surprisingly, the physical distance only seemed to strengthen our love and commitment to each other. We quickly learned that the miles between us couldn't reduce the connection we shared; instead, it became an opportunity for growth and a testament to our commitment.

As time passed, our relationship grew, and now, as we take on the journey of marriage, we are eagerly anticipating the future. We are so excited to see where life takes us as we begin this new chapter as a married couple.