Cody and Stephanie met in the spring of 2021 and for lack of a better way to put it, they were both smitten from the beginning. Wanting to wait to introduce each other to their kids, they spent the next 6 months having "secret dates" and texting every day. The more they got to know one another, the clearer it became that they had each found their "person." They weren't even sure they believed in such a thing before, but have found it to be quite true.

After 6 months, right at Christmastime, Cody and Stephanie brought their 6 kids together and everyone got to meet each other. Quickly the kids began to hit it off. Weekends were the one time that all eight could be together and so the kids were always looking forward to when Friday would come and sad when Sunday evening came.

Two years later, and those feelings are even stronger. The kids have formed deep bonds with one another and with Cody and Stephanie. Everyone is excited about being a family. Shortly before they became engaged, Asher (Stephanie's 7-year-old) would often ask, "When is Cody going to marry us?"

Stephanie and Cody love spending time together. They make time to visit antique shops, go for drives in the Jeep, cook together (okay mostly Stephanie wants to eat Cody's cooking), and purchase more wood so Cody can make spoons that Stephanie will then try to steal. Perhaps what they do most though is talk. And laugh together. A lot. Well, that and watching their kids live amazing lives.

Cody and Stephanie had been talking for some time about getting married and how to unite their families officially. In October while Cody was in Colorado, he realized that he didn't want to be away from Stephanie, even for a day. And so their engagement began.

They contemplated just going to the courthouse or having a clergy friend marry them, but their children were so excited to celebrate with a wedding. Finn (Stephanie's 12 -year-old) asked to walk his mom down the aisle. Emma (Cody's 10-year-old) insisted on making her amazing brownies for the wedding. Eli (Cody's 15-year-old) wanted a big party with awesome food. Eleanor (Stephanie's 7-year-old) said she knew what weddings were like (she's been to 1 wedding) and assured her twin brother, Asher, that she'd make sure he knew what was going on. And Cole (Cody's 11-year-old) gave a slight smile and acquiesced to the idea of a party, especially when he heard there'd be cake.

In many ways, this rowdy crew of eight has already become a family. Cody and Stephanie already consider their partner's three children as their bonus kids. They've embraced the chaos of life that comes with such a large family and take joy every day in seeing their relationship grow.

Neither one, Cody or Stephanie, has every felt so seen, heard, and loved. They look forward to the many years ahead of them as a family and dream of one day growing old together, living in a tiny house that Cody built, watching their grandkids grow (yes, they're old enough to occasionally think of that), eating delicious pancakes, and talking until the sun goes down.