We are high school sweethearts whose story began at Harbor Beach Community Schools, where two shy, awkward kids slowly fell in love.

Back then, I was dating my brother’s friend, him, the boy I secretly had a crush on. My brother must have seen something between us before we were ready to admit it, because one day, he told him that I liked him. From there, everything started to change.

At first, neither of us quite knew how to navigate our feelings. We were both quiet and unsure, but somehow, being together felt natural. We learned how to open up, to trust each other, and to dream together, even when it felt scary.

After graduation, life pulled us in different directions. I went off to college while he stayed in our hometown. Even with the distance and the challenges of growing up, we found a way to stay connected. We knew that what we had was worth it.

During my junior year of college, he asked me to marry him in the most perfect way, out on the Harbor Beach break wall at the end of February, with the cold waves and the quiet lake around us. It was beautiful and so very us.

By the time I reached my senior year, our little family grew by four paws when we brought home our dog. It felt like another chapter of our story was beginning.

From high school hallways to college dorm rooms and back home again, we’ve grown up together. We’ve learned that love isn’t always loud or flashy; sometimes, it’s quiet and steady, showing up every day through all the seasons of life.

Q + A