Our love story started just like any one else's these days--the internet. While traveling to Kentucky lake with high school friends, I received a message from a guy with two names (his last name was in fact NOT Bryan). From there we formed a connection that I was certain would only lead to friendship-and I was right..at first. A year went by and we would talk off and on about our separate lives and eventually we both knew that there was more that needed to be explored.

Fast forward to 2018, we decided that enough was enough and we needed to go out on a proper date. So he did what any gentleman would do and drove 4 hours to Springfield, IL to take me to dinner. We went to a beer garden for dinner and drinks and to this day there is still a discrepancy on who really won the bocce ball game (it was me). After a weekend I had wished would never end he made the drive back home. We both didn't really know where we stood because in the back of our minds we thought "can a long distance relationship really work like this?" We had our doubts and concerns on if this was fair to do to each other--but we took that leap and started dating September of 2018.

We knew this was going to take work ( a lot of hard work) and dedication to see this to its full potential. We tried to not go more than a month without seeing each other but sometimes that just didn't work out the way it was supposed to. It seemed like we would blink and the weekend would be over and I was already asking when the "next time" would be. We tried to make it as fair as possible while traveling to see each other and that didn't always work either. The point being is things didn't always play out in the easiest ways for us but he gave up something that could never truly be repaid--his home for mine.

In December 2021 he made the sacrifice to leave his job, his home and his family in Kentucky and to bring his dog Penny to make a home and a life with me and my dog Charlie here in Springfield. As we both (and the dogs) navigated our new life of living with someone else, all felt right in the world and I truly felt like everything was meant to be. If I missed him I didn't have to Facetime him to see his face or drive 4 hours to give him a hug--I just simply walked into the next room. There is simply no better feeling than creating a forever with your best friend.

Had you asked me in September 2018 if I was going to marry him I would have given you the same answer I gave him on June 9th, 2023...YES!

Sometimes it takes more than what you think you're capable of to create your love story. We put in the work and baby we're livin' it now.