A classic Facebook DM... "Do you have a twin?"

Madison: Instantly, I thought "interesting, this person knows me!" Which of course led me to responding. I later found out that this reaction was the exact one Garrett was looking for out of me. One message turning into 5 years of laughter, smiles, Texas Roadhouse dates, weiner dog cuddles and more.

My Favorite Memories:

After a year of dating, I had convinced Garrett that weiner dogs were the best animal in the world, so of course he drives me to Texas and gets me my Kiwi Marie. Throughout the years, I have changed Garrett from only caring about hunting, fishing, and sports to caring about hunting, fishing, sports AND dachshunds. Fast forward four years and now we have our little man, Gooseberry Longfellow.

That summer after meeting Garrett, we got to go to North Carolina with his family! Of course these are some of my favorite memories. I got to meet his extended family for the first time, and we got to take on our very first road trip together. Of course, we jammed out to 2000's hits, a little bit of country, some rock n roll and occasionally a little bit of metal (not by choice, for me!). The week was a dream. One of the many things I love about Garrett is his ability to make anything a BLAST! He can make me laugh until my stomach hurts, put all worries aside and focus on the fun!

Another memory that I will always be fond of is looking up in the stands while I was cheering in college and seeing Garrett. He is always supporting me and cheering me on throughout my life endeavors. It will be a memory that I will be able to picture in my head for the rest of my life.

In summary, there are so many lovely memories that go into shaping our relationship story. It would take me a decade to go over all of them. I am forever thankful for Missouri Southern for giving us each other and for that sneaky little message being sent to my inbox. These years have been the best years of my life, getting to spend my days with Garrett and my sister, three peas in a pod.

Garrett: Our relationship started like many today, with a message. After making sure I knew which twin was who based on every picture being together with her sister of course. That hopeful message led to a first date at our now favorite mexican restaraunt (El Vallarta). We both liked similar music, went to the same university, and funny enough, are from towns very close to each other growing up. I quickly found what this girl likes. Mexcian food, ice cream, movies, diet soda, and of course the main passion…. Dachshunds. This girl had dachshund everything, from socks to stickers, phone cases, dachshund everything.

The Dachshunds: After a year or so of dating, on the 2,657th picture of Dachshunds being sent to my phone. I decided to get one for her. We drove halfway across the country to meet this lady who had Maddie’s first wiener dog, Kiwi. I had to mold myself into a dachshund man with this girl. There was no way around it. I had always been concerned with hunting, fishing, and the outdoors. I never really thought too much about dachshunds and certainly didnt think the family functions would involve 9 little wiener dogs sprinting around the house at a million miles per hour, but I wouldnt change it for anything. Madison and these little furry lowriders are my life now.

Favorite memories: Some of my favorite memories are visiting her as she cheered at MSSU basketball and football games. Talking her in to going out for mexican food or Texas Roadhouse after every game was usually not too difficult. We have travelled to North Carolina with my family for vacation. We have spent every Thanksgiving and Christmas together visiting both of our families (dachshunds in tow of course). We have graduated together, struggled together, and grown together. We have done almost everything together (Besides do much hunting and fishing, I am still working on that.)

There is not a moment spent with her that I dont cherish and I thank God every day for her.

The Proposal: After 5 years of dating, it was time to put a ring on this beautiful girl’s hand before she kills me. Madison and I’s family helped me to plan a beautiful engagement. This isn’t to say it went flawlessly. Madison and her sister accidentally parked at the wrong end of the park and couldn’t get to us for 45 minutes as strangers stopped her to talk about this cute little dog she was toting around (Goose man). This was God’s plan though, because as they were talking about Goose, we were setting up the decor for the engagement. Sprinklers kept going off in this rose garden we were in. Soaking me, the decor, and everyone helping me to set it up. Every time we would set it up in a different area, the sprinklers would go off again, like they were following us. After finally getting set up, I crouched behind roses bushes for 45 minutes (heart beating out of my chest of course) before Maddie finally came around. But nothing else mattered, not the heart beating out of my chest, stress from sprinklers trying to ruin everything, dozens of people watching, or 2” of standing water where the proposal was set. I was about to ask the love of my life to marry me. I will never forget that day and I am forever grateful to make Madison my wife.

In conclusion: From shooting my shot with a message, to getting engaged to a beautiful girl with a dachshund obsession, my life with Madison has been unforgettable. She gives me something to look forward to every day. On the hard days she is there for me and on the good days, she is there to make them even better. I couldn’t imagine a life without Madison (and the many many wiener dogs that come with).