It all started with a bold move in the digital age: Joe slid into my Instagram DMs. At first, I brushed him off, but something about him—his mysterious look and those striking face tattoos—stayed on my mind. Curiosity got the better of me, and soon enough, we were FaceTiming, joking around and, on impulse, I told him I loved him. Little did I know how true that would become.

Just days later, on February 6, 2019, Joe and I met for our first date in Sacramento. I was in a walking boot at the time, yet Joe didn’t mind; he saw something in me worth the chance. We went to dinner, laughed and shared stories, and the night took an exciting twist with a spontaneous trip to a Kings game. It was instant love, and in those moments, everything felt right. By February 18, in the beautiful city of San Francisco, we found ourselves confessing our love to one another, making our feelings official.

Life seemed to speed up as we built our little family. By April 1, we were picking up our first “baby,” Robear, and from there, our love only grew. Though life has thrown us challenges, we've always remained best friends—homebodies at heart, both dog lovers, happiest snuggled up with our fur family: Robear, Ellie, and Remi. When we’re not at home, you’ll find us exploring the trails on foot or biking side-by-side, grateful for the new adventures we constantly share.

After 2,070 days together, on October 7, 2024, Joe popped the question on the trails during a mountain bike ride. In a spot that means so much to us and our three pups. Joe asked me to be his forever and it was an easy 'YES!'. It was perfect: two best friends, laughing together in our biking bibs, embarking on a lifetime of love, laughter, and all the trails still waiting for us.