Dustin and I met while attending college at MSU- Northern in Havre, Montana. We both participated and were active with the MSU- Northern Collegiate Stockgrowers and found ourselves always enjoying hanging out with each other and our larger group of friends.

After a full senior year of college staying close and hanging out fairly regularly, we (mostly me) decided it was best not to ruin the potential for a good thing at that point in time and we chose to go our own ways upon graduation. I left for Billings to work for the Congressman and Dustin moved to Great Falls to work for CHS.

Dustin and I stayed in touch over the next few years and circled back to talking daily in spring of 2020. With that great pandemic going on I had lots of time on my hands and enjoyed chatting morning and night with the handsome Dustin Clark.

It was one evening after a fun day of branding with Danyce & Luke Stulc that I was lounging around on the couch giggling at one of the funny things Dustin had snap chatted me. Danyce of course curious as to what was causing me to smile and bring a twinkle to my eyes asked who I was talking to. "Oh, just Dustin Clark," in which she immediately replied "Tayla he is the nicest human on earth why don't you just seal the deal and date him." And it was at that moment that I knew my best friend was right and I needed to not waste one more minute... so being me, I called him and said, "Hey! I think we should date!" and of course he said, "hey! I think you are drunk!" in which we all proceeded to laugh at because he wasn't wrong.... but I knew that there was no point in wasting anymore time because he truly was the best of the best.

And since that one day in April of 2020, I am happy to report he hasn't missed a good morning text. We spent a few weekends in person getting to ensure that we were indeed the same people we were in college and then it was on May 31st, 2020 that Dustin asked me if I would officially be his girlfriend.

Over the last four years Dustin and I have faced many highs and lows. We have celebrated many wedding days with friends and welcomed a number of special little ones who we enjoy spoiling. We have spent endless early and late hours in a tractor, semi, pickup, and car sharing memories, dreaming of our future careers and family, and getting to know each other better. We share the joy of flower beds, gardening, yard work, and improving our home. And as much as I may hate the early mornings it brings; I love nothing more than spending time with Dustin in the corrals or pasture working cows. We have also shared the heartbreak of the terrifying news after Dustin had part of his thyroid removed and they found it contained cancer. Through endless appointments, multiple surgeries, special diets, new sleeping habits, a trip to mayo, a nature path, and lots of hot tub time we were able to persevere. We are happy to report we finally feel like Dustin is getting some of the answers and help with all of the side effects the cancer brought with it. It wasn't always easy but at the end of the day we both knew that it made us grow closer and that if our relationship could withstand through the tough times we would be able to flourish even more in the better times.

After 4 long years....

He finally popped the question on our 4 year anniversary May 31st. We had a sweet day flower shopping, taking a scenic drive to one of our favorite places to eat in Willow Creek and were on our way home when once again I became a bit frustrated on how madly in love I was with this guy... and all I want to do is marry him and start a family. So in true Tayla fashion... I threw myself a bit of a pity party and when we got home we went to planting my new flowers. It was at 10:30 pm that Dustin busted into the bathroom while I was showering and asked me to marry him. He said, "Honey will you marry me." Of course I was so mad at myself for the pity party and being miserable at the end of such a great day, I was embarrassed and asked if he would try again tomorrow. He said, "Nope today is the day and there are only a few more hours left and I know you don't want me to wait another year." And he was right in that fact!! I figured I better take it while I could. :) So after a whirlwind of a special day I just tried to wrap my head around how it all ended. It was the next morning when I woke up, I realized that was our proposal story, raw, real, and really unique but heck that is exactly who we are and I am so thankful for just that.

I knew very early on that he was the one for me!

I guess it took him a bit to agree;)

but that's just who we are and forever we'll be! ♥