Our story starts in Lebanon, Ohio, where we grew up right down the road from each other without even realizing it. While I can't pinpoint the exact moment I met Ty, our paths likely crossed in junior high, when I was a cheerleader and Ty played football. But it wasn't until high school that our connection really began to spark.

Our freshman year of high school, Ty sat right behind me in geometry class, and for once I was excited for math. We'd pass notes, share knowing glances, and find any excuse to talk to each other (while still be very focused on the math I assure you).

Coincidentally (or maybe it was fate), our lockers were assigned next to each other throughout high school. I found myself stopping at my locker between almost every class, even when I didn't really need anything, hoping to catch a glimpse of Ty and make sure he noticed me. These brief encounters became the highlights of my school days.

Ty asked me to be his girlfriend after one of his baseball games. We were playing catch when he caught the ball, pulled out a pen, and wrote, "Will you be my girlfriend?" which obviously swept 14-year-old me off my feet and I said yes, of course.

In those early days of dating, we were still too young to drive, so our parents had to chauffeur us on dates (thanks guys). But we just couldn't stay away from each other obviously, so Ty would occasionally walk to my house, braving a busy road that made both of our moms nervous (sorry mom).

College took us in different directions. I went to the University of Alabama, while Ty played baseball at Vanderbilt. Being so far apart has never been easy, but we make it work, supporting each other's goals and staying connected despite the miles between us.

In 2020, for the first time since high school, we found ourselves living close to each other again. It was a challenging time for everyone, but having that time together was a bright spot for us. It felt a bit like being back in high school, minus the riding to school together every day.

After that, we were once again separated by distance, this time across the country, as I started medical school in Florida and Ty's baseball career took him out west (literally opposite corners of the country). We've gotten pretty good at making the most of our time together and staying close even when we're far apart.

From high school sweethearts to soon-to-be newlyweds, our relationship has grown and changed along with us. We've supported each other's dreams and haven't let distance stop us from growing together. Eleven years later, we've shared so many milestones. We're excited for this next chapter and can't wait to see what the future holds for us! (Hopefully it'll bring us closer than 2,000 miles!)