9.26.2026

Our story starts back in 2011, thanks to Facebook and a few well‑timed words. Emily shared a line of lyrics—*“I need you to help me along… You need me to write you a song.”* Bryan somehow came across the post, liked it, commented, and before long we were messaging regularly. What started as casual conversation quickly turned into something that felt easy, familiar, and exciting all at once. As we got to know each other, Emily began coming out to Bryan’s band shows, and music became part of the backdrop of our early days. We spent a lot of time adventuring in the mountains and eventually found ourselves drawn to one very special place—Emily’s great‑grandmother’s log cabin. Sitting on the front porch, surrounded by quiet countryside, became one of our favorite ways to slow down and just be together. After about a year, life sent Bryan back to Illinois with family. Even with the distance, we stayed in close touch and never stopped showing up for each other. About a year later, we decided it was time to try again in the same place. That choice led to a snowy, slightly nerve‑wracking trip to Asheville, followed by the drive back to Statesville—and the start of our life together. Not long after that, we adopted Sue, our first dog. That pretty much sealed it. We spent several years living together at the cabin while Bryan continued playing music and we figured out what life looked like as a team. Eventually, we packed up and moved to Illinois together, both finding jobs and giving the Midwest life near Bryan's family a real shot. But as much as we tried, we missed the mountains, the coast, and the slower, familiar rhythm of North Carolina. So once again, we found our way back to the cabin—where we’ve stayed ever since. One morning about two years back, we found a small dog on our gravel road. That’s how Gibby—a sweet, scrappy girl—joined our family. These days, life is filled with Sue and Gibby at our feet, birds visiting the many feeders outside, and the kind of peace that comes from living at the end of a dirt road. Since returning to North Carolina, our lives have continued to grow and shift. Emily has been caring for her great aunt and uncle, stepping into that role with love, dedication, and a huge heart. Bryan has begun a new chapter too, stepping away from performing live music and taking on a full‑time job running heavy equipment—steady work that’s helped us build toward the future. With more than 15 years behind us and plenty of plans ahead, we’re continuing to build a life we love. We’re committed to caring for the cabin homestead, making repairs and improvements as time and finances allow, and growing together through every new chapter. What started with a few shared words has turned into a life rooted in love, perseverance, and the joy of choosing each other—every day.