In the summer of 2019, Emily and Matt both made the decision to take their professional careers to Manassas Park, Virginia. Little did they know, it would be the start of their life long journey together. Emily and Matt both accepted jobs where they taught 4th grade at Manassas Park Elementary School, right across the hall from each other. As they were setting up their classrooms to begin the school year, they were introduced to each other. Matt was wearing an Eagles shirt and Emily let out a “Go Birds!” They shared how they were both from the suburbs of Philadelphia and Matt went to Millersville and Emily went to Bloomsburg. From there, an instant connection was made. Throughout that first year in Virginia, Emily and Matt were co-workers at school and friends outside of school. They would help each other in school by sharing ideas, supplies and materials. Outside of school, they would get together with a group of friends and go out to breweries, have game nights and watch football games together on the weekends and spend time together during the week as well. Their relationship continued through zoom calls, daily Facetimes and texts in the spring of 2020 making sure to keep in touch and check in on each other. As friends, Matt took Emily as a guest to a wedding he was invited to in the summer of that year! When the next school year arrived, those daily Facetimes and texts led to planning lessons and activities for school together, to going on walks after work and eventually having dinner together. Emily and Matt eventually introduced one another to each of their families and friends and would go to parties and events together. In the summer of 2021, Emily and Matt took a trip together to Emily’s family's Pocono house. A weekend full of fun and laughs. They took a walk down to Pines Lake on that Saturday night to sit on the dock and watch the sunset while sharing a drink. While watching the sun go down and enjoying each other’s company, Matt asked Emily to be his girlfriend. With a huge smile, she said yes and they continued to grow their relationship together. Their first year of dating was spent in Virginia where Emily joined Matt in traveling to all of his ice hockey games as he was the coach for Millersville. Emily then took Matt to join her family for their annual “Elf Night” Christmas party. They had friends visit them in Virginia and hosted New Year’s Eve and went to an Eagles game in Washington DC, followed by attending plenty of weddings together, going to the gym together and spending time adventuring around the D.C. area. At the end of the school year, Emily and Matt decided to move back to Pennsylvania and begin new jobs both teaching third grade but this time, in different schools. The next two years in Pennsylvania were full of more adventures and growing together. They went to numerous Phillies games at Citizens Bank Park, including their first playoff game, a Kenny Chesney concert, vacations to Colorado, Florida and Boston, Iehlepalooza’s, more weddings and get-togethers and events with family and friends. Matt even convinced Emily to buy her own set of golf clubs and they started golfing together! More importantly, their relationship continued to grow and they continued to support and love one another. Three years later, in the summer of 2024, Matt and Emily took another trip to the Pocono’s but this time, a different question was about to be asked. After getting ready to go to “dinner”, Matt and Emily took another walk down to Pines Lake. They went and visited the same dock as they did in 2021. As they overlooked the dock and shared how amazing these past three years had been, Matt dropped down to one knee and asked Emily to marry him. Once again, with a huge smile, Emily said yes! They celebrated together with so much joy and happiness in a place that meant so much to them as they would now begin their next chapter of their relationship and lives together.