I first met Hannah at a coffee shop with her best friend, Morgan. Later that year, another one of her best friends would live with my family for the summer. Hannah often came over to spend time with her friend, but that meant I also got to spend time with her. Hannah was friendly and kind, and she loved the very little things of life- I loved that about her. She was someone I truly loved to be around. She was quickly becoming one of my best friends too. It was the Summer of 2018, and I knew this was my chance. What started as a very confident approach on my part, ended as I found myself smack dab in the "friend zone." Hannah went to Virginia Tech to work for the latter half of the summer, and I thought that was the end of it for us. It wouldn't be until a few months later, that Hannah finnaaallly came to her senses, and I found myself breaking through the friend-zone. Can I get a hallelujah from the back? From trips to Blacksburg, meeting halfway in-between, and hometown weekends, we quickly began to love each other in the coolest ways. I never envisioned myself in a long distance relationship, and while it was not always easy, it felt like the most natural beginning to something good worth pursuing. After a year of dating, I knew that I was in love and Hannah was the one. I'll never forget going over to her parent's house while she was out of town, and having the all intimidating "asking the dad" talk. I did it and the Stratton family and I celebrated together, laughed as we realized their daughter's name would actually be "Hannah Hanna," and began planning for the proposal everyone needed in 2020. We all kept the secret and Hannah never found out! Dating and now being engaged to Hannah, has been the greatest blessing I didn't know existed. She teaches me what it means to truly care for those you love, find joy in the mundane, and dance in crowded rooms. We're on this journey together and it's a blast doing it with your best friend. Here's to the Hanna's!