She said yes!

Back in 2019, Amanda was living in New York with her kids, doing life solo—but not without support. Kiki had become her right-hand person and was constantly on the phone with her cousin Dym (aka “Pooh” to the family). After jokingly rolling her eyes at all the calls, Amanda soon found herself in on them too. What started as the three of them chatting casually on video calls turned into something unexpected and special. On November 24, 2019, they convinced Pooh to come home to New York a little earlier than planned for Thanksgiving. Kiki had promised to keep her company on the drive—but after a few drinks, she was knocked out. Amanda stepped in, and she and Pooh ended up talking the entire night. For hours, they dove into everything and nothing, laughing and connecting like old friends—even though they had never met in person. At 6:01 a.m. November 25, 2019, there was a knock at Amanda’s door. Pooh had arrived. Amanda answered it—and though neither of them is big on physical touch, without hesitation, they hugged. Just like that, something shifted. They spent that week together, sneaking in every moment they could between family obligations, parenting, and work. By Thursday, they shared their first kiss. “I love her,” whispered to a friend by Saturday and confession to Kiki by the following Wednesday. Neither of them planned on falling into a relationship… but love had other plans. They talked and spoiled each other daily, and in January 2020, Dym flew back to NY to take Amanda to her company’s masquerade ball for their very first official date—and the bond deepened. Then the world shut down. With remote work becoming the norm, Dym stayed in NY—and mostly with Amanda. On October 25, 2020, after months of back and forth between NC and NY, she moved in. The next day, during a surprise sloth encounter (yes, a real one!), she asked Amanda to officially be her girlfriend. Like many real love stories, theirs wasn't without its challenges. They later parted ways and spent a few years navigating life and healing individually—while still showing up for one another regularly and through every big life moment. They never really let go. In September 2023, they focused on growth more deeply no longer just as individuals but as partners. By February 1, 2025, they blended their families—moving in together permanently. Then came June 21, 2025. Dym planned a day to celebrate Amanda’s upcoming birthday. First, a hot air balloon ride—something Amanda had always dreamed of (and yes, wild adventures like that are totally normal for them). Afterward, they dressed up for brunch at Rise and Shine—the very same spot they went to the day they met. Then came the blindfold. (Also not unusual, love surprises.) Amanda was guided out of the car, walked a bit, and lifted her blindfold to find herself standing in front of the grave of her beloved grandfather and great-grandmother—a place of peace, prayer, and reflection she regularly visited alone. She had never taken Dym there before. But this time, she wasn’t alone. In front of her stood a row of people—those who had supported them both, as individuals and as a couple, over the years. Friends. Family. Her children. Dym spoke with open, vulnerable love—not just to Amanda but to everyone who had been a part of their journey. Amanda thought it was a beautiful, deeply meaningful birthday gesture—until Dym dropped to one knee. She sobbed, overwhelmed, and turned to her children shouting, “We did it!” Because in that moment, Amanda realized something she’d always wanted had come true: she had shown her kids what a healthy, lasting love looked like. (Of course, she said yes.) Now, on November 25, 2025—six years to the day from that 6:01 a.m. knock on her door—Amanda and Dym will say I do. And this next chapter? It’s just getting started.