Nothing Fancy Just Love

In 2009, our paths crossed on the college soccer fields, but what began as a shared athletic pursuit quickly revealed itself as something much deeper. Soccer opened the door, introducing two people who might have otherwise passed like ships in the night across a sprawling campus. As we got to know each other, we discovered connections that went far beyond our love of the game. Our conversations, which started with training strategies and match recaps, gradually ventured into dreams, childhood memories, and the futures we each imagined. There was an ease between us that made even ordinary moments feel significant. As student-athletes balancing demanding schedules, we found comfort in facing similar challenges together. Our academic journeys often intersected in the same classrooms, where the familiar face of the other became a welcome constant amid college's uncertainties. The camaraderie between the men's and women's teams created natural opportunities for us to spend time together outside of practice. Those away game trips became chapters in our evolving story - long bus rides where conversations deepened, team dinners where we gravitated toward each other, and late-night talks that lingered long after others had fallen asleep. In these unhurried moments, something profound began taking root between us – a connection neither of us was looking for but one we both recognized as rare and worth nurturing.

What started as teammates on the soccer field eventually transformed us into partners in life. While our story began with shared athletic pursuits, it evolved into something neither of us had anticipated. When Drew suggested we join his family in Tennessee for Thanksgiving, I thought nothing of it--just another holiday gathering with people I'd grown to love. The trip felt wonderfully ordinary--filled with familiar traditions, delicious home cooking, and the comfortable chaos of family togetherness. Little did I know that Drew had been carrying more than just overnight bags on our journey south. As evening settled around us and the warm glow of conversation filled the room, Drew created a moment I'll never forget. With our loved ones gathered as silent, smiling witnesses, he took my hand and found words that seemed to stop time itself. The question that followed transformed what I thought was simply a family holiday into the threshold of our future together. Surrounded by the people who had watched our relationship bloom, I said yes in a voice that somehow managed to escape my overwhelmed heart. What had begun years before on a college soccer field had led us here--to a Thanksgiving that would forever be remembered not just for gratitude of what was, but excitement for all that would be.

One of us loves to plan every detail, while the other one prefers to wing it. We met and immediately bonded over our mutual love for soccer. The rest is history... and snacks. We argue about the most important things: Who controls the TV remote and whether pineapple belongs on pizza. We’re getting married because we’ve finally agreed on one thing: who gets the last slice of cheesecake. We’re proof that opposites attract—one of us can’t function without coffee, and the other is still trying to figure out how to make it. Our relationship is built on love, trust, and who gets the bathroom first in the morning. One of us is a morning person, the other is a ‘don’t even look at me before coffee’ person. Our relationship motto: We’ll figure it out, but first, let’s get snacks. Our idea of a romantic evening: two takeout boxes, a good movie, and absolutely zero plans to leave the couch.