Some people meet at work, through friends, or in college. We met because Trav said yes to a layover in Chicago—a city he’d never been to and had no plans to visit. At the time, NutraBio, a supplement company he’d been working for on the side, had asked if he was okay with a layover in Chicago for one of their events. Travis agreed without thinking much of it.

That one simple decision ended up changing both of our lives.

During that layover, we matched on a dating app which connected through a local radius. One swipe led to hours of conversation. Even though we lived in different states, it felt easy and familiar. We were texting nonstop, FaceTiming like it was our full-time job, and somehow always finding new ways to stay connected. There was something about it that just felt different—in the best way.

A few months later, Trav flew back to Chicago for our first real date. Like any good story, it didn’t go exactly as planned. The winds were fierce, we missed our boat tour—just in time to watch it drift down the Chicago River (thanks to a much-needed coffee detour), the Skydeck was closed due to weather—our tickets no longer valid, and we bounced around multiple parking garages trying to figure out what was next. But we spent the day laughing through it all, wandering the city, snapping the classic Bean photo, and ending the night with a cozy dinner and a strong sense that this was something real.

We spent the next two years doing long distance. Flights, countdowns, late-night calls, early morning texts. Our dogs, Duke and Millie, became long-distance besties. Our families welcomed us both in, even if they were understandably curious about how this was going to work out. Falling for someone in another state after one weekend sounds a little bold—but for us, it worked. We kept showing up. We made it work. And somewhere along the way, it stopped feeling long distance and started feeling like home, even when we were apart.

After more than eight months of searching for a way to relocate and finally be with Travis, God’s timing revealed itself in the most unexpected way. Tracy’s Division President shared that her company had just opened a new corporate office in Northwest Arkansas, a market they had only recently expanded into. Even more, he wrote her a letter of recommendation to support the move. With hope and excitement, Tracy flew down for an interview. That same weekend, a tornado hit Trav’s house.

Power was out. Trees were down. Gas lines were broken.

But in the middle of it all, we were just grateful to be together. That weekend was scary, exhausting, and overwhelming—but it only brought us closer. It reminded us that love isn’t just about the fun moments. It’s about showing up when things get messy, uncertain, and completely out of your control. That weekend proved we could face hard things as a team.

Tracy never got on her return flight that week. The job offer came the following week. A few weeks later, with her parents’ support, a fully loaded U-Haul, and Trav leading the way in the Telluride with his trusty co-pilot, Millie, Tracy made the move—and just like that, our long-distance chapter came to a close.

Now we get to live the life we used to dream about on FaceTime. Morning coffees, evening dog walks, movie nights, and all the small, everyday things that somehow feel big when you’re doing them with your favorite person.

We’re thankful for every twist and turn that brought us here. For a layover that wasn’t supposed to happen. For opening an app at just the right time. For every challenge and moment that made our relationship what it is today.

And now, we get to celebrate that love—with all of you.