Kristin and Tyler "officially met," at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in July of 2016. They say "officially met," in quotation marks due to the fact that Tyler has quite a reputation at Grandfather Mountain each summer, so Kristin knew of Tyler before they were formally introduced to one another and became friends, and eventually even more.

It was a chilly, somewhat rainy night of camping, and Kristin was casually sitting and drinking among friends around the fire, taking in the ether of the evening back at the Castle compound / camp. Tyler (we'll continue from this point calling him lovingly by his mountain moniker, "Puppy,") had on a very nice, cozy trench coat... meanwhile, Kristin (as she normally can be found) was quite cold. Kristin proceeds to make a bet with Puppy, acquires his trench coat for warmth, and he begins to dote on (providing drinks for) Kristin. Eventually, Kristin moseys back to her tent with Puppy's trench coat on, and Puppy has gone his own way by the next morning, thinking he will never see his trench coat again.

The next day, there was to be a Highland jello wrestling competition. Kristin, having already participated in this sport the year prior, had figured out this was NOT the event for her, and decided to sit this year out safely and watch for fun. Puppy had found his way back at this point to where the jello wrestling was taking place, and again encountered Kristin. There were definitely some flirtations going on between the two at this point... so much so that Kristin sat in Puppy's lap on the hard, rocky mountain ground waiting for the jello wrestling to start for quite a few minutes before it was eventually canceled due to safety concerns. It was in that moment, with Kristin sitting on Puppy's lap, that Kristin began to wonder, "Hmm... maybe there might be something to this... and wouldn't it be funny to look back on this years later and have KNOWN..." and she was so very, very right.

Again, throughout the rest of the week camping, Puppy continued to dote on Kristin and fetch her drinks, they talked more and more, and Puppy continued studying to acquire his CDLs to drive big trucks for UPS... then Kristin eventually asked Puppy where he lives. "Jacksonville," says Puppy. "Jacksonville, NC?" asked Kristin hopefully, to which Puppy laughs and says, "No, Jacksonville, FLORIDA!" Kristin began to panic and question everything, but phone numbers had already been exchanged between the two, and it was now time to part ways because the Highland Games had concluded for the year.

Kristin and Tyler (switching back to "Tyler," here due to no longer being at the Highland Games) continued communicating via phone calls and text messages. The first trip to see one another was Tyler's 6.5 hour journey in either August or September of that same year to Kristin's tiny little apartment on Moss Lake in Shelby, NC... all after he worked a 14+ hour shift driving for UPS! While Kristin was at work that Friday, Tyler graciously cleaned her apartment from top to bottom and cooked them dinner. They shared a fire out back together, and even went to dinner at a local spot on Saturday evening. Kristin remembers the weekends that Tyler spent with her in her small little apartment so vividly, due to the fact that Tyler LOVES to be COOL, and Kristin's bedroom window was kept WIDE OPEN in the CRISP fall and winter evenings, much to her dismay, and even after much complaint. Kristin also remembers the sadness of Tyler having to leave... on BOTH of their accounts. Tyler would always stay with Kristin until the very last moment that he ABSOLUTELY HAD TO leave... and when he got back to Jacksonville, FL he had to turn right around and drive another 14+ hour day with UPS.

After two years of traveling back and forth to see one another (either Tyler to Shelby or Kristin to Jacksonville), Kristin was not making the progress she desired in her career, so she decided to make the big leap and move to Jacksonville, FL and got a teaching job in the fall of 2018. Tyler could not move to NC (though he probably would have loved to) due to not being able to retain his seniority that he had already acquired with UPS. It was a tumultuous first few years in Jacksonville for Kristin... her first teaching gig in Jacksonville did not work out, she missed home a lot and did not ever think that she would love Jacksonville, but it was through continual reassurance by Tyler that she stayed, worked for the Y, eventually moved in with Tyler, then in fall of 2020, began teaching again in a much better school district, and has been happily teaching there ever since!

Tyler and Kristin have both grown so much at this point in their lives, both individually and as a couple. They have grown to be each other's better halves, understanding (to the highest degree) one another's needs and wants, filling in the gaps wherever needed, and, as much as they BOTH struggle with this at times, they 100% understand how to push one another's buttons. Tyler was a young buck of 30 when he met Kristin; Kristin was going on 25, and throughout the years, families have been introduced and are loved by them both, lasting friendships have been made and solidified... and though life will never be perfect for either of them, both Kristin and Tyler agree that it is time to take the next step in choosing one another FOR LIFE, and they will continue to forge their paths TOGETHER AS ONE (craft beer, Neebs Gaming, Harry Potter loving) UNIT, wherever that may lead them. Let the adventures ("UN/OFFICIALLY") begin, and thank you all for your continued love and support over the years, and for sharing in these special moments with us leading up to our big day next summer... We love and appreciate each of you, far more than can be expressed here. All this being said - LET'S GET PUMPED, and LET'S DO THIS!!!

It's WEDDING TIME!!!

#cheers #adventureswiththeandersons #happilyeveranderson #2024

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