July 2018

I first saw him across the room (typical) during the summer leading up to my freshman year. He was standing there leaning on his tuba in a white cut-off with "Cherp" airbrushed in blue across the front. Cherp. What a weird nickname. But there was something about him that made it hard for me to not stare. Then, there he was, talking to his girlfriend.

August 2018

On my first day of high school, I saw him again. He sat quietly in the back of the class. I found a seat in the front. Biology class. I was clueless. When our teacher told us to find groups, Cherp found me.

"I know you," he said.

Now I knew he had seen me, too.

October 2018

Since we had a few classes together and were both in marching band, we spent several hours a day together, and we'd become friends. He helped me with biology, and I helped him with relationship problems. I looked forward to seeing him. His girlfriend didn't seem to like me (I can't imagine why), but I wasn't hurt. I wasn't overly fond of her either.

November 2018

At the end of the band season, his girlfriend had her sights on someone else. He did too. Right after their breakup, he told me he liked someone else.

"Do I know her?" I asked.

"Very well."

"What does her name start with?"

"R."

"What color are her eyes?"

"I don't know. Why?"

"They're green," I said. "And you'll see them tomorrow morning."

February 2021

Our relationship dwindled and I ripped off the band-aid. I quickly realized my mistake, but the damage was done.

August 2022

I found a man whom I hoped would help me move on for good. My heart then took me to Tennessee, where that long-distance relationship quickly began to fade.

September 22, 2022

One night, my roommate and I went to our favorite campus greenspace to study. When my phone buzzed, I was eager to take advantage of the distraction.

Logan Cherpeski: "Hey, how are you, and sorry its so late"

He was reaching out. He was thinking about me. He was at my parents' house playing cards with my mom.

I was angry. I was relieved. I was still in a relationship.

We texted and caught up. We talked on the phone during our long drives. And he finally admitted what I already knew.

Needless to say, my relationship didn't last much longer.

October 2022

On October 1, he drove to Tennessee, and on October 2, he asked me to be his girlfriend again. That was the first time he visited Tennessee, but it certainly wasn't the last. Almost every weekend over the next couple months, we took turns making the 5 hour drive to see each other.

November 2022

After Thanksgiving break, I decided not to drive back to Tennessee. Tennessee was home sweet home, but so was he.

December 2022

I moved out of my dorm after final exams, and moved into the "Cherp" house (what a weird nickname).

January 2023

Our family began with four little paw prints when we adopted Jax, our teeny black lab.

April 2023

He's awful at keeping secrets, and I hate surprises. I knew it was happening, but I still wouldn't trade that moment for the world. On April 29, he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him, in front of the waterfall at Charleston Falls, alongside Jax.

June 2024

As we say "I do" and I take his last name (Cherpeski- what a weird last name), we're asking our closest family and friends to join us in beginning the next chapter of our story!