Adam and I met through the Elyria Auxiliary Program, where he was my mentor. From the very beginning, he had a huge impact on my life—teaching me about law enforcement, responsibility, and how to better manage my time. What started as mentorship quickly turned into a genuine friendship. As we spent more time together working events—like crowd control for fireworks at West Park, Elyria Catholic school basketball and football games, and even choir concerts at the high school—our connection naturally grew stronger. Some of my favorite memories from that time are the simple ones, like going over to his house to bake cookies after I’d had a tough day. Adam was never focused on appearances or anything superficial—he truly cared about helping me grow into a better person. That’s what made our relationship so special. We built a strong foundation as friends first, and over time, that friendship turned into something deeper. After a few months, our connection naturally blossomed into love—and the rest is our story. 💍

Adam thought we were just going out for a fun day—but I had a plan (well… multiple plans 😅). First, I tried to propose in an escape room… but we got so focused on solving the puzzles and getting out in time that I completely forgot to ask him. Round two: the Ferris wheel at National Harbor during the Christmas tree lighting. It was absolutely beautiful—but Adam was a little more focused on how high up we were and the wheel rocking 😅 Then fireworks started… which would’ve been perfect, except it was way too loud for a proposal. At this point, I was determined. So I took him to the rooftop at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. Nerves were kicking in hard, so I took a quick shot to calm myself down—and even had some strangers cheering me on. Adam, being Adam, somehow ended up getting us champagne and setting up two chairs with candles outside while he stepped away for a moment. When he came back out, we were sitting together high above the harbor, overlooking the water and all the lights. That’s when I finally said it: “We’ve been together a long time—10 years, to be exact—and I don’t want to spend my life with anyone else. Will you marry me?” He said yes ❤️ I jumped up from my chair to kiss him… while he got a little stuck trying to get out of his 😅 I had to help him up so we could finally hug. And then, like something out of a movie, an older couple walked up to us. They told us they had both been widowed and had found love again at 70 years old. It felt like a glimpse into our future—growing old together, still happy, still in love. It was the perfect, imperfect, unforgettable moment—and one we’ll carry with us forever. ✨