Our story begins all the way back in 5th grade, when fate (and a shared backyard) brought us together. We grew up as neighbors, spending countless days playing outside with all the neighborhood kids. Our parents used to joke that one day we’d end up together, though at the time, we just laughed it off. Years later, in 2020, life brought us both back home during the pandemic. What started as old friends catching up quickly turned into something more. The friendship that began in childhood turned into love. Over the years, we’ve made so many memories together, especially during our trips to Michigan, with Mackinac Island holding a special place in our hearts. It felt only fitting that, just shy of five years together, that’s where he got down on one knee and proposed.