Our story began in a very modern way, at a time when I was convinced, I was done looking and Tanner was convinced he was looking for casual. Life (and a little technology) had other plans. After a near miss and a second look, thanks to Tinder Gold (not sponsored) we matched—and from that moment on, something just clicked. We talked endlessly, quickly learning that time seemed to disappear when we were together. Late-night conversations turned into FaceTime calls that stretched far past bedtime, and before long we were planning our first date: dinner at Santa Fe, followed by a movie. I had already seen it, but he picked it, so I went along with it. The movie was We Live in Time—romantic, heartfelt… and unexpectedly tragic. Not exactly the typical first-date choice, but somehow it made the night even more memorable. Before the movie that evening, I gave him a necklace—a simple paperclip chain with silver links and one gold link. A small reminder that we were already learning how to meet in the middle, blending what makes each of us who we are. From there, everything felt natural. We never stopped dating, quickly becoming best friends who laugh constantly and find joy in the ordinary. I met Oakley Elyse and fell deeper in love than I ever could have imagined. She makes the world go round, and she knows it! I cannot even begin to put into words the way she has changed my life for the better. I am overjoyed by the future of watching her blossom into a beautiful human being. Together, we’ve camped more times than we can count, explored new and familiar restaurants, taken beach trips in every season, committed to going to church together each week, cooked countless meals, hosted friends around our table, folded far too much laundry and put away too many dishes, experienced a NASCAR ride-along, nights at the drag strip (don't ask), a redneck WWE experience (again, don't ask) watched entirely too many seasons of Survivor, and moved—twice. Through it all, we’ve built a life rooted in love, faith, laughter, and choosing each other every day. We cannot wait to keep doing all the things—big and small—and to continue growing together as we step into this next chapter, hand in hand, for the rest of our lives.