We first met in high school, completely by chance, in one of those small moments you never expect to matter. Gabe was shadowing his sister at Strasburg High School, hoping to attend soon, and she just happened to be Maddie’s locker neighbor. Maddie was grabbing her books when his sister cheerfully announced, “I want you to meet my baby brother, Gabe.” Maddie looked up to find this tall, goofy guy standing there, giving her the most adorably awkward wave. Neither of us knew it then, but that split second would eventually change everything.It wasn’t until senior year that our paths finally crossed again in a real way. What started as shy conversations and stolen glances slowly grew into something steady and undeniable, and soon enough we finally got together.Within our first year, we both knew without hesitation that we had found our person. Being together felt so natural, as if we had known each other for far longer than we actually had. There was an ease, a softness, and a familiarity that made every moment feel like coming home. We grew up side by side, navigating the exciting and sometimes challenging transition from teenagers to adults. Through every season, with every change and every adventure, we always felt anchored in one another.Today, our happiest days are the simple ones. We spend our time in the mountains, camping and fishing with our two dogs, soaking in the quiet moments that remind us how lucky we are. There’s something about being surrounded by trees and fresh air that brings out our best memories and our biggest dreams. And it was in those very mountains, on our ten-year anniversary, that Gabe found the perfect way to ask the most important question. While carving pumpkins, he turned his around to reveal the words carefully carved into it: “Will you marry me?” It was sweet, unexpected, and so perfectly us.And now here we are, standing at the beginning of our forever, ready to build the life we’ve always imagined together… even though forever still doesn’t feel nearly long enough.