If you know us, you probably already know—we've been together for over ten years. And while every love story is unique, ours still feels like a movie I get to live in every day. It's real, imperfect, sometimes wild, often hilarious—and always filled with love.

When I was looking for a partner, I wasn’t just looking for someone for me. I needed someone who could be a role model for my oldest son, Ryder. I knew what kind of love we both deserved. And when I met Cody, I found it in ways I didn’t even know to hope for.

The way we met still makes us laugh—and probably seems unbelievable if you know us now. It was during a Three Olives bar party at Market Street. Cody loves to tease me about it, because I honestly don’t remember meeting him that night. But he insists we really hit it off, and I must’ve believed him, because from that day forward, we were inseparable.

I like to say I knew it was worth exploring when he told me he was a Redskins fan but also “liked Peyton Manning.” That tiny moment stuck with me. Our first official date? It was refreshing—real. Cody laid it all out there that very first night. I was in school to become a teacher, and he told me, plain and simple, “The only kids you need to teach are ours.”

From the beginning, he wanted me to be home with Ryder—a child that wasn’t biologically his, but one he has always treated as his own. He showed up not just for me, but for us. We quickly discovered we loved the same shows, shared outgoing personalities, and became best friends without even trying.

I’ll never forget when Cody met Ryder for the first time. We’d been dating for over four months. We took a trip to the Baltimore Aquarium, and watching him with my son that day… it clicked. I knew. I knew he was the man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.

Not long after, I lost my job when the business I worked for closed without warning. I panicked—but Cody didn’t. Instead of urging me to find something else right away, he told me to stay home, focus on Ryder and school. He said he’d support us. And he did. He always has. He’s a provider in every sense of the word.

He’s also been the biggest believer in me—no matter what wild ideas or dreams I’ve chased. Whether it was going back to school, launching new ventures, or even when I had a full-on petting zoo (yes, complete with a camel!), Cody was right there, cheering me on. He never once made me feel like my dreams were too big—he just helped make room for them.

Together, we’ve built a life rooted in what matters. Our three children—Ryder, Carson, and Savannah—are the greatest blessings we’ve ever known. They are our joy, our purpose, and our daily reminder of how far we’ve come. Watching Cody with all three of them is one of the greatest joys of my life. His love for our family runs deep—and it shows in everything he does.

And while yes—you’ve all heard me tease and fuss over not being married after all these years—it truly wasn’t a priority for him. Early on, his sister Shannon even warned me, “He’s not the marrying type.” Cody didn’t believe in marriage. Not then.

About seven years ago, we had a heart-to-heart. I told him I wanted to get married and have a baby. He asked which was more important. (Classic Cody!) So, naturally, we decided to start growing our family. If it were up to him, we’d have ten more kids. I’m content with the three beautiful blessings we’ve been given—but we’ll see where life leads us.

Our relationship has always been steady. We don’t fight. We don’t argue. We don’t go to bed angry. I think what’s made it work so well is that we were honest from the start about what we both wanted. We don’t try to change each other—we just fit. We balance each other. We bring out the best in one another.

And over the years, our love has evolved. When Carson was almost one, we began going to church, and both of us started to grow in our faith. Each year, we’ve taken new steps in our walk with Christ. And then—this year—Cody proposed. In church.

He stood there and talked about how he used to think marriage was just a piece of paper. But now, he sees it for what it truly is—a covenant with God. A promise to honor Him, and each other. That moment… I’ll never forget it. Hallelujah.

This is the legacy we want to leave behind. Not just a love story, but a faith story. A home where our children know the Lord, where they learn to walk with Him and be a light in the world. A place filled with love, laughter, grace, and the unshakable belief that God brought us together—for each other, and for something greater.