Our story began in 2018 at a Lambert vs. South Forsyth high school baseball game. Cooper was a senior playing for South, Madison was a sophomore, and after the game he asked her to get Bruster’s ice cream. That night ended with him dropping her off at home and somehow meeting her entire family—right out of the gate. In 2019, Cooper left to play college baseball, officially turning their relationship into long distance. Between school, miles apart, and Cooper moving around for baseball (aka transferring more than once), the journey wasn’t always easy. There were a few breakups along the way, but no matter what, they always found their way back to each other. SEVEN YEARS LATER, Cooper pulled off the ultimate surprise by proposing at the botanical gardens the Monday before Thanksgiving, with both of our families there and Madison’s cousin capturing the moment.