December 2020 - It all started with a dating website (shout out to Hinge). Samantha was living in Raleigh, NC, at the time. Tanner was in town house hunting because of his upcoming move to NC. On Hinge you can change your location, so you are able to see potential matches around you. Tanner did exactly that even though at the time he was living all the way in Oklahoma. So of course, Tanner and Samantha matched and Tanner swooped in with a corny but cute pickup line.

Without even meeting in person, for the next 3 months they found themselves talking to each other every day through text, snapchat, sharing funny videos on Instagram and facetime to make sure they weren't catfishing each other! The two knew there was potential because of the connection they were able to make without even meeting!

March 2021 - The date was finally set for Tanner to move to NC and the first plan he made was a date with Samantha. Just making sure she let Tanner know what he was getting himself into, Samantha went snowboarding the weekend before their first date and broke her arm. Eager to meet they still kept their plans but due to Samantha's condition they changed their first date to just IPAs and pizza at Samantha's place. Tanner made the 50-minute drive from Fayetteville to Raleigh. The connection they shared proved to be real in person too! So began the traveling back and forth to see each other every weekend they could.

April 2nd, 2021 - Samantha helped Tanner celebrate moving into his new house in Fayetteville and met his mother, Marie, over facetime!

May 2021 - Tanner made the drive to Greensboro, NC to meet Samantha's family. Lucky for him only one of her brothers were in town that weekend so he didn't have to worry about being questioned by all three along with her father all at once! Also lucky for him, they all loved him!

August 2021- Samantha got to meet Tanner's parents and his huge basketball family at their friends Travis and Michelle's wedding.

September 2021- Tanner and Samantha traveled to Greensboro to hang out with her whole family for a weekend. On this weekend Tanner told Samantha he just knew he was going to marry her one day, a moment she will never forget.

October 13th, 2021 - Tanner and Samantha said "I love you" for the first time and made their relationship officially official! They will let you guess who said it first!

November 2021- Samantha got to meet Tanner's sister Samantha (what is the likelihood right!) at a thanksgiving celebration he had at his house with his family.

December 2021 - As if they weren't already doing a long-distance relationship, Samantha started travel nursing. Though this made Tanner sad, he knew it was a dream of Samantha's and her plan since before they met so he fully supported her and her dream. Samantha moved to Maryland for her first assignment and so started the 5-hour drives to see each other!

December 31st, 2021- Tanner and Samantha brought in the new year together snowboarding in Colorado! This was a dream come true for Samantha, she had always fantasized about going out west to snowboard and now it was a reality!

February 2022- As if the distance still wasn't far enough, Tanner was deployed to Poland. Not knowing how long he would be deployed for, if they would even get to talk, or most worrisome how much danger he would be put in made this time extremely difficult but brought them even closer as a couple. Samantha kept her phone on ring, so she never missed a call and luckily, they were able to talk every few days. Crazy to go from talking every day to hardly at all. Through those most meaningful talks, support from both families and friends, and a personal journal Samantha wrote in daily to give to Tanner when he returned, their love grew stronger than ever before.

May 2022- Tanner was luckily only deployed for 3 months and returned to NC, where Samantha was eagerly awaiting him!

August 2022- God sent Tanner and Samantha a win! A travel nursing opportunity opened up in Fayetteville and for the first time in their relationship they got to see each other almost every day (besides when Tanner had to go to Army trainings) and didn't have to spend the weekends traveling to each other!

December 2022- Tanner took Samantha to his home in Wisconsin to see where he grew up. She was able to meet his HUGE family as well at his cousin Katelyn and her husband AJ's wedding.

Jumping forward to August 2023 - Tanner finally got to come on one of Samantha's weeklong family beach trips with her parents, two of her brothers and their families, her grandparents and even extended family.

August 13th, 2023 - It was the last day of the beach trip. The whole family was on the beach listening to music, sharing stories and watching the sun set. Tanner and Samantha had been trying to master the iconic "Dirty Dancing" move where he lifts her over his head. Samantha told Tanner they should try it one more time. Ada, Samantha's grandma, suggest turning "Time of My Life" on for inspiration. Beka and Joseph (Samantha's sister-in-law and brother) set up to capture the jump. The music going, Samantha runs and jumps into Tanner's arms, nailing the move! Seeing how great they nailed it in the picture Tanner says, "Let's try again". Samantha was pumped to somehow get it even better. In secret Tanner tells Joseph to take a video and don't stop rolling. Of course, Joseph laughs thinking "He is going to throw her in the ocean". With the music in the background Samantha takes a deep breath and starts her run to Tanner planning on giving this everything she has. Tanner holds his hand up telling her to stop seconds before she jumps. Confused and disappointed he stopped her mid stride Samantha starts to say something then she notices he is getting on one knee. It takes a moment to register what was happening. With only the ocean behind him, the sunset shining in his eyes full of passion as he gets on one knee and holds the ring out. In complete shock she says, "Are you serious!". She remembers that perfect moment with only the two of them, every word he spoke to her. Feeling God in the moment completely with the ocean and the song in the background. This man was the man God had planned for her this whole time. She saw their future together flash before her eyes and all the happiness. Without a doubt in her mind, she said Yes!