We officially crossed paths in 2023, but our story began much earlier! Back in 2004, we were both students at Manatee Elementary, where we shared the same school from kindergarten through sixth grade. We had mutual friends and often saw each other in the hallways, yet we never exchanged a word or shared a class. I was aware of him, and he was aware of me. :) After elementary school, we went our separate ways for middle and high school. He joined the Army, while I pursued my studies at UCF. Fast forward to April 27, 2023—Josh and I reconnected and had our first date at Grills in Port Canaveral. He drove down from Georgia, where he was stationed. Unfortunately, the weather was terrible for our first outing! We faced heavy rain and tornado warnings, but we decided to go anyway, knowing it was our only chance to meet. It turned out to be a memorable date, especially since the rain was so intense that shrimp swam off our plate back into the water by the end! Haha! It was quite the downpour! We only went on that one date before Josh was deployed to Germany a few days later. I was determined to keep the connection alive! We talked on the phone every day and enjoyed Facetime sessions. We both agreed to make it work, and it felt so natural. I even came up with a fun little game: we had to ask each other a question daily and answer honestly. It was a blast getting to know one another better. Along with our daily chats, we exchanged postcards, cards, and packages, and with each passing day, our love blossomed. One of the most significant things we discovered was our loyalty to each other. After 197 days apart, I finally got to see him again for our second "real" date. While our Facetime dates were special, nothing compared to being together in person. I drove up to Georgia where he was going to be stationed for his "Welcoming Back Ceremony" and easily spotted him among hundreds of soldiers marching in formation. He was the only and I mean the ONLY one smiling ear to ear. It was two o'clock in the morning and I had waited so long for this very moment. Now it was finally happening! It didn't feel real! I knew he was the love of my life long before this moment! Yep, you heard that right, ONE DATE in 197 days. But that's all it took. I knew I would wait however long it would be to see him. He was worth it! Our love story isn't a traditional one, but I wouldn't change a thing about it. That was how it was supposed to happen. We live in Georgia with our two puppies and are soon to be moving to Hawaii for a few years to continue more exciting adventures together! -Brenna and Josh "I have found the one whom my soul loves." - Song of Solomon 3:4