Mikayla was always someone I adored growing up, she was my sisters gorgeous friend. I never would've thought when I was younger that I'd be marrying her. I was always seen as Emily's goofy little brother. I gained the nickname "Gibby" when I was 8 years old. I can't remember who gave me the nickname, but let's assume it was my sister or one of her friends. I guess as a kid I resembled him but I also tried to deny it.

Going forward in life I would always see Mikayla and constantly think that she was the kindest, sweetest person I knew. Where things changed for us was the summer of 2016 when Mikayla lived at our house for the summer. Mikayla was home from college and I was done with my sophomore year of high school. That summer we did everything together including coaching swim team, going on our boat, and going to a Twenty One Pilot concert. I knew I had feelings for her, but I was 16 and she was 20, so I knew it couldn't happen for us. After that summer, I told my best friend Hunter that Mikayla was the one for me. But I knew there was no way I would have the courage to shoot my shot with her.

Eventually early in the year of 2018, I was finally 18 years old and a legal adult. Mikayla is a rule follower so I knew if I told her how I felt as minor, she would most definitely shoot me down. So at 18 years old, I decided to shoot my shot with her and by my surprise, she agreed to our first date at Lodi Brewery. I felt like the luckiest guy that day and have felt that way ever since. Luckily here we are today with our 2 amazing dogs, living in our own house, about to get married and I'm still obsessed with her everyday. We've been through a lot together leading up to us getting married but I know we are a strong and capable couple who can thrive in this world.