Some call it manifestation, others call it prayer. Most call it determination, but one thing remains clear. If you know what you want, then you know how to get it. Shamelessly pursue it and you'll never regret it. See through the roadblocks, make yourself a plan. Listen closely to your gut since no one else can. Be true to yourself and the right people will come. Catch more flies with honey and more pirates with rum. The love story of CC and JJ began in the spring of 2018 at the University of Washington. They spent CC's first and JJ's second year of college living in the same dorm, just two floors apart, without ever noticing one another. As the year was ending, JJ showed up at CC's soccer practice as a candidate for next year's coach. Suddenly, CC started noticing JJ everywhere: outside their dorm, in the dining hall, at the soccer field. Summer break arrived quickly keeping the sparks at bay, but fate, it would appear, had a plan for them. As classes returned in the fall, JJ decided to take the volunteer coaching role while CC decided to join a sorority. She would later discover JJ was the weekend chef at that very sorority. JJ was now coaching CC's soccer team three times a week and cooking for her sorority every weekend. The kind and genuine nature of one another quickly gravitated these two together, and like that the sparks were flying. The only problem was, you can't date your soccer coach... or your house chef! Over the next two years, CC chased JJ through an on and off, up and down, semi-secret, and thoroughly worth-it romance. They finally gave it a real shot in the last quarter of JJ's senior year when the pandemic arrived, erasing all obstacles previously discouraging JJ from fully embracing his enamored CC. Her years of pursuit had finally paid off and as is life, just as their fire began burning, a new obstacle arose. JJ graduated with a degree in chemistry and his expertise was needed in Healdsburg, California. With CC having one more year of college and a life happily rooted in Seattle, JJ felt it best to leave on a high note and say their goodbyes. He packed up his things and left his beautiful maiden behind for the sunny land of opportunity in July 2020. Even with 800 miles separating them, CC was still not ready to give up. She worked her charm over the phone until one fateful day in February 2021 when JJ finally played with her heart one too many times. For the first time, it was CC saying the goodbyes and for that reason, it felt different, more serious, more permanent. They say you never know what you have until you lose it. At that moment, JJ finally realized how deeply he had fallen for this girl. With absolutely no idea how they were going to make it work, JJ called CC begging her to be with him. Days later she was hopping off a flight and into his arms, looking out across the windy Sonoma coast. Over three eventful years of long distance, CC earned her degree in computer science, JJ moved four more times, CC got hired and promoted at Amazon Web Services, JJ started (and failed) three different companies, CC lost her wisdom teeth, JJ introduced CC to Indian food, CC spent all her vacation days (and then some) visiting California, and JJ got a pet lizard. Madly in love and unwaveringly optimistic, CC finally left Amazon behind and moved to California in January 2024 to begin a new chapter. With their precious puppy companion by his side, JJ brought CC back to the Sonoma coast exactly four years after her first visit to ask CC the most important question of his life. CC said YES, Zig Zag went WOOF, champagne went POP, and the rest is history! Now planning and looking forward to a fantastic wedding with all their loved ones, CC and JJ have nothing but excitement for the future and ambitious goals they can't wait to chase after together.