Back in 2017, I reached out to Matt to hang out, we had mutual friends, I always thought he was a cutie (and I had a feeling he was crushin’). After some back and forth, we planned a dog walk at Riverbend Farm.

The morning of our first date, it was pouring rain, but right as it was time to meet, the sun came out. We were both a little shy, but I knew he was special when he let me give him a tarot reading and still wanted a second date. I don’t remember the whole reading, but I’ll never forget his “future” card: the Wheel of Fortune - symbolizing change and good fortune. Turns out, it was spot on.

We pretty much became inseparable after that first date. Not long after, we were meeting each other’s friends and family, and everything just felt easy.

One thing that stood out to me early on was how clearly Matt had been shaped by the strong women in his life. He was raised with respect, softness, and humor, and it showed in the way he showed up and treated others. I could see right away that he would be a good man, because he had learned from the best.

I’ll never forget the moment he told me I reminded him of his favorite aunt.. kind and quiet, but funny when you actually pay attention. That little comment stuck with me. People see me, but they don’t always take the time to listen. I get spoken over a lot, or assumed to be quiet just because I don’t fight to be heard. It was the first time I realized how closely he paid attention to the quiet parts of me. And in that moment, I knew he really saw me.

Summer 2017 was the summer we fell in love, and we didn't care about anything else.

Fast forward seven years: we were on a family vacation in Maine with my siblings and nephew. I had a feeling a proposal might be coming, but when I asked if I should pack anything special and Matt just said, “No, we’re just going to Maine,” I figured it wasn’t happening.

But on the night of the full moon (he knows I love the moon), during sunset, Matt quietly whispered to my sister Holly that he was about to propose. He brought me down to the dock at my family’s camp (a place that holds so much meaning for me) and poured his heart out. Unfortunately, I totally blacked out, but I remember him saying how much he wanted me to officially be part of his family. And of course, I said yes.

That night we celebrated with lobster, and later, under the moonlight, we went out to look at the stars, and saw a shooting star. You really can’t make this stuff up.

Over the 8 years of our relationship we've grown through so much. Different homes, job changes, the loss of loved ones and pets, and through it all, Matt has been my steady, unwavering rock.

He doesn’t run when things get hard. He stays grounded, even when life feels uncertain or overwhelming. If you know Matt, you know you can count on him. He shows up every time without needing to be asked. He’s the first to lend a hand, the last to ask for credit, and one of the most quietly compassionate people I’ve ever met. I feel like the luckiest woman to share life with someone so loyal, hard-working, and full of love. I don’t think he realizes how big his heart really is.. but I certainly do.

We first met in high school.. not through an introduction, but with a glance. It was math class, where I first locked eyes with her. Emma Noel. We were both a little shy, but personable. The kind of people who always knew the same crowd, even if we hadn’t found each other in it yet. There was a spark then (a quiet one) and for a while, that connection drifted into the background of growing up.

Fast forward a year. I was away at college when out of the blue, she messaged me. I was surprised, but mostly just happy. The timing wasn’t perfect, I was across the state, but something about it felt right. I told her, "Next time I’m home, I’ll take you out... a dog date at the park." We both had dogs, and our love for animals made it a natural idea, and she agreed.

Weeks passed, and the day finally came, summer break. I messaged her, and we set it up. I picked her up, greeted her with Dundee, my dog, and met her dog Ellie for the first time. We headed to Riverbend Farm in Uxbridge. The sun was shining, the weather was perfect, and the whole scene felt like a dream. We walked, talked, and she pulled some tarot cards for me. I remember thinking, This just feels good. This feels real.

From that day on, the dates kept coming. And every time we saw each other, I knew I wanted to see her again. Before long, we were introducing each other to our families, our friends, and of course, they all loved Emma. Honestly, it started to feel like everyone was wondering how I got so lucky.. I was.

Eventually, we said “I love you.” That’s never been something I say lightly. Those words mean everything to me, and when she said them back, it gave me a feeling I’d never known.. a kind of warmth that you don’t just find with anyone. It grows with someone who's meant to be there.

Over the years, we built a rhythm: breakfast at the diner, fishing trips down by the river, late nights with friends, quiet evenings in each other’s arms. She was always there. Always. And it was in all those little moments (not grand gestures, but real ones) that I knew. I had found the one. The one I wanted beside me through everything, forever.

When the time came, I was ready. I had a ring made by a small artist, something simple and beautiful, something her. I tucked it into my bag and waited for the moment I had pictured so many times. It was at her family’s camp in Maine, on the dock of Sunset Cabin, under the moonlight. It felt like the stars had aligned just for us. It was quiet, peaceful, and full of meaning. I got down on one knee and asked her to marry me.

She said yes.

If you told 17-year-old me, the kid daydreaming in math class, stealing glances at the girl with the long brown hair, that we’d be getting married ten years later, I wouldn’t have believed you. I’d probably tell that kid to pay attention in class... but also to follow his heart.

Because one day, it would lead him right to her.