Thirteen years ago, I received a call from a man seeking a massage for his beloved 15-year-old black lab, Izes, and I could instantly sense the deep bond he shared with his dog. As I approached his home, I faced an immovable gate that forced me to hoist my massage table over it, resulting in a snag and a small rip in my shirt from climbing over it—nothing too noticeable, I hoped.

When he opened the door, it felt almost surreal, like angels were singing and white light shining around him, and I quickly composed myself, making sure my jaw hadn't fallen open, and introduced myself. Our friendship blossomed into a loving relationship over five years, during which Joe came to my aid on several occasions, including finding a way to my house to help me when our town was flooding, fixing home issues, and providing support when I needed it most.

Now, after a decade together, he has made my dream come true and has asked me to marry him! He continues to be my rock, embracing the chaos of our lives with love and kindness, acting as a wonderful role model for my kids, Liv and Liam, and bringing immense joy to our family. I feel incredibly lucky to have him, and I owe it all to Izes for bringing us together.

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