Val & T.J.

September 9, 2017 • Pittsburgh, PA

Val & T.J.

September 9, 2017 • Pittsburgh, PA

How it all started....

...on Critchfield Drive. T.J. , my twin sister, Victoria and I were neighbors growing up. We have been friends since the age of 5. Carpools to CCD , T-Ball , play dates in the neighborhood and many school dances/talent shows was everyday life to the three of us. He always said he was going to marry one of us, the question was which?

As we grew up, the "brother" I saw in T.J. started looking" hot." Luckily the option for marrying one of us was still open. I told my sister to tell T.J. I liked him. He quickly wrote me and asked to take me out. Our first date was at the movies-we saw 2012. I remember like it was yesterday. Our first date grew into four years of an amazing relationship. Much of those four years we were long distance, had our ups and downs, but the love never faded.

Upon graduation from college, T.J. and I decided to start over, take this to the next step and work on a "forever" relationship.

This past August, (August 25th to be exact), was the most magical day of my life. I was told T.J. and I were going to dinner that Thursday night, little did I know that was not the plan. My sister had picked me up and took me home. There was a card and flowers in my mailbox, addressed to me. I got inside and before I could even read 3 words of the card, I started crying. I knew this day would change my life. T.J. prepared a little scavenger hunt. First, he sent me to the place we started dating. He even had the little poster board he asked me out on sitting at the restaurant (funny, right?). The next card led me to the place where we spent four amazing years together.

I pulled up to Chartiers Valley High School-heart racing, teary eyes, clammy hands, and a nervous yet excited heart. T.J. was standing in the gym, our favorite song playing, rose petals on the floor and our little Baby Zona waiting for me in the middle. It was an absolute dream. I guess high school sweethearts do exist!