Every love story begins somewhere — ours started with a swipe. We met on Tinder during a time when I was ready to take a step back from dating. Cody was the last date I planned to go on before moving to Fargo, ND, and if that didn’t work out, I had already decided I needed a break. But then I saw his profile — a man who looked adventurous, full of life, always traveling for football and basketball games, and most importantly, clearly a family man. I still remember thinking how adorable he looked holding his nephew. He says he was drawn in by my smile, calling it “inviting,” and couldn’t stop looking at my pictures.

Our first date was memorable in the best kind of way. We planned to meet at Starbucks, but I started to worry when Cody was ten minutes late. I saw him through the window, glance in… and walk right past the door. My heart sank. I thought he had changed his mind. But, as I would later learn, he was just so nervous he didn’t realize the door in front of him was the actual entrance!

After some laughs over coffee, we strolled through the mall, visited a pet store to gush over puppies, and ended up catching a last-minute showing of the movie: Cuckoo. Even after the credits rolled, neither of us wanted the evening to end. So we found a cozy bar, grabbed a drink, and talked for hours.

It wasn’t just a date — it was the beginning of something we both didn’t know we needed.

Cody says he knew I was the one when he saw how naturally I connected with his family, and how much love and generosity I gave not just to those close to me, but even to strangers. I knew he was the one about six months in — when I realized I never had to question where I stood. He was attentive, consistent, deeply kind, a man of God, and someone whose love showed up in all the small ways that mattered most. When he looked at me, I felt safe — seen, chosen, and cherished.

Over time, we built a life full of the things we love — escape rooms, horror movie nights, experimenting with new foods, cheering at basketball and football games, and endless game nights. We’re best friends at heart, and our love has only grown stronger with every memory made.

When Cody proposed, it was during a wedding-themed escape room weekend with my sister, Tiana, and my brother-in-law, Jaime. We had to “find the couple’s rings” to solve the puzzle. And when I finally opened the box — there it was: my engagement ring. I turned around, and there he was, on one knee, asking the easiest question I’ve ever answered.

Cody is the first and only person my parents truly loved for me — the kind of love they had prayed I’d find. And now, we can’t wait to celebrate this next chapter with all of you.