We met on an online dating app called Bumble. What started as an amazing conversation between two uncertain strangers quickly turned into one of the best connections neither of us expected. Literally life changing. In both of our eyes. While working a night shift one Christmas during the height of a pandemic, he thought, Why not spread some cheer to this beautiful woman on the other side of the phone who had been making his heart and mind race? Hoping she would say “yes” to going out with him, he took a chance. To her, it felt like the most amazing Christmas miracle. She said “Yes!” Because of scheduling conflicts, they arranged to meet for their first date at a place in Pennsylvania called Azteca. Both were nervous about their first in-person interaction, but their strong conversations on Bumble helped ease those nerves. That night was full of laughter, delicious food, and meaningful conversations. It marked the beginning of a bond that would change both of their lives forever. They began a routine: Sunday meetups in New Jersey for Shawn (due to his work schedule), and Wednesdays at Catriona's place in Pennsylvania. Eventually, everything changed when Shawn decided to move to Pennsylvania. It would bring them physically closer than ever before. No longer separated by distance or just a phone call, they were finally side by side. Fast forward through vacations, family gatherings, countless loving memories, and late-night talks. Shawn realized he no longer wanted to call her just his girlfriend. He wanted something more meaningful. During his work shifts and days off, he searched for the perfect gift. Something heartfelt, with meaning behind every crafted detail. Once he found it, the planning stages had begun. Everyone anticipated the moment he would ask for their approval. But that was all part of the surprise. For months, he waited for the right time, and he finally had a plan in place. That Christmas Eve in 2024 was the moment. They were at her family's Christmas party, having one of the most memorable nights together. Everyone expected the proposal to happen there, but it didn’t. Holding off was tough, especially with her whole family present and enjoying themselves. As the night came to an end and they were leaving, there was one last stop before heading home. Time was running out before Christmas Eve was officially over. After holding onto the ring for so long. The hours, days, weeks, and months were adding up. It was finally time. The car ride home was full of lighthearted conversation, which helped calm his nerves. When they arrived, she was eager to go inside after a long day. He followed behind, heart racing, thinking to himself, “The time is now.” As she reached the last step to the house, he called out, “Wait, you forgot something.” The scene was perfect and the timing matched exactly when he first asked her out. She turned around to see him on one knee. The expression on her face. Surprised, smiling, tears in her eyes. Was unforgettable. As she stumbled back down the steps toward him, he slipped the ring on her finger and asked: “Will you marry me?” Her heart was racing, hands over her face as she wiped back tears. She finally caught her breath and said, “Yes!” Moments later, she was ecstatic. Calling and sharing the experience with all her family through phone calls and in person. In that moment, I thought to myself, “This is the next chapter. Everything led up perfectly.” As we went to sleep that night, we both said to each other, “This is a Christmas miracle.”