Warning - this is a hot love story - literally, it was 102 degrees in Chico where we met. We spent our days by the river with our beloved fur baby, Lydia. She had a way of drawing out the kindness in both of us—something that bonded us deeply from the start. From the very beginning, it felt like we’d stumbled into something rare—something we didn’t want to let go of. As we got to know each other, we discovered we shared a love for living in the moment, getting lost in nature, and saying yes to every adventure. He introduced me to strategy board games (and I still claim beginner’s luck for those early wins), and some of our favorite nights are still the ones spent laughing over a game board. Meeting each other’s families made everything deeper. I saw how beautifully he connected with my nephew and later my niece—how naturally he showed up for kids and animals alike. And he got to see how fiercely I love the people in my life, how much care and patience we bring to each other, especially as we navigated becoming grown-ups—together. Somewhere along the way, the daydreams turned into real visions: a cozy home, two little ones with giggles echoing down the hallway, flour-covered faces in the kitchen, the joy of playtime. We could feel the future settling around us like something we already belonged to. And then—finally—he popped the question. I was so overwhelmed, I didn’t even answer right away. I just cried (a lot), and he held me while we laughed and cried together. Later that night, I had to double-check if I’d actually said yes. (Spoiler alert: I did. Thank God.) And now here we are—on the cusp of the best adventure yet. The future, together.