Welcome to Love, Laughter, and Happily Ever After!

I had just moved into my first apartment with my two close friends. My roommate, Zach, mentioned getting a job at Safeway, one of the nearby grocery stores. At first I didn't want to apply because I didn't want Zach to think I was copying him, but something told me to just go for it. I was so desperate to find a job since I would be paying rent for the first time, I put on my flowy gray dress and black tights and dressed it up with my black leather jacket so I could introduce myself to the manager. I had never been this forward for a job before, and was incredibly nervous. I walked in the store and asked to speak with Stephanie, the hiring manager, who immediately took me to the back of the store to interview me. I was just there to introduce myself and let her know I applied- I wasn't expecting to get an interview right there! After a few questions and a saliva drug test, she offered me the job! I couldn't believe it! I felt so good about it, especially having cashier experience from working at Dairy Queen, and I felt like everything was falling into place. Fast forward a few weeks and a few shifts in, I remember checking out a customer and chatting with them. It was busy, and I didn't have a courtesy clerk bagging for me, so I was going as fast as I could. Suddenly I turned to my left and Will came up to my checkstand, smiled, and said 'Hey!' I immediately got butterflies because I had never talked to him before, but had seen him a handful of times. I remember thinking he was so handsome, but I just KNEW he had a girlfriend. Like c'mon, how can someone like him be single?! Will and I ended up talking more than interacting with the customer, and he ended up getting in trouble for being at my checkstand for too long. He actually got pulled into the office by the manager and called him out by saying, "I know she's pretty- but you need to move checkstands." Haha! On January 11th, we had our first date, and it was all because of checkstand 2.

2021 started out rough. After being in Bellingham for 4 years, we were getting tired of renting, and decided to start house-hunting. However, right before a viewing of a house, I fell and tore my meniscus, fractured my patella, and cracked part of my femur- ouch! Because of this, we decided to move down south closer to family in case I needed surgery. It was stressful watching everyone pack my things around me as I laid in bed in a giant knee brace, and it was heartbreaking leaving Bellingham so abruptly. Luckily my dad offered for us to stay with them for 3 weeks while the house was being renovated. On March 18th, we had our first night in our new home with our pets by our side and fell asleep to The Simpsons, something we bonded over. The next day we were expecting our best friends, Austin and Emily, for a day full of HomeGoods shopping and decorating, but something much more happened. Will was adamant on getting a photo in front of the house with a sign that said "We're Buying a House!" I started to grow suspicious since he was so desperate to make sure we had a sign for this moment, a reason to take the photo. Once Austin and Emily showed up, I offered to use my phone for the photo but my friend said she brought her camera. Hmmm... Emily took a few shots with the sign, then said "Alright, now sit down!" That's when Will turned to me and said "Hey, you were right!" and got down on one knee. I was still shocked even though I had a feeling. It was surreal seeing the love of my life before me with my dream ring, asking the question, "Emily, will you marry me?" I felt like I was in a dream. I don't remember speaking, just nodding. We all cried, laughed, hugged, celebrated, and it finally felt like the start to our new chapter- our new life together in our first home. -Emily