Hayden and I were always almost. Always almost meeting. Always almost crossing paths. Our lives ran side by side for years without ever fully colliding. We grew up less than ten minutes apart. Going to separate high schools, 4 years apart. Neither of us knowing each other existed. Same small county. Same circles. Same places. Just different timing. For years, I would go to Mickelson’s Auto Body in Bartelso, to pick up or drop off parts or vehicles for K&J. That’s where I first saw her. There, working in the office. I didn’t know why, but I had a crazy urge to say hi. And time and time again, I never did. I was unreasonably scared and bashful. I couldn’t explain it then. I definitely can now. Throughout the next years of life, I caught rare little glimpses of her here and there. Same butterflies. Same almost. Fast forward to July 2023. I was third wheeling with friends at a Fourth of July party in Covington, Illinois. Which happened to be at her dad’s clubhouse since the annual parade got rained out. A group of us were chatting when this absolutely stunning woman walked up. A voice in my head was whisper-shouting, “holy shit, that’s Hayden Mickelson.” That night, after years of near-misses, we finally connected. What started as awkward small talk turned into laughter, easy conversation, and a moment where everything just felt right. After that night, we didn’t really talk for a month. Then one weekend she was driving home from a bachelorette party in Kansas City and I called her. We talked for five hours and thirty-two minutes that Sunday night. It was easy. It was everything. Our first date - me grilling at my house. Chicken with lemon on top, asparagus, and a fridge fully stocked with her favorite beverage, Natty Light. It was so perfect and casual and comfortable. Wasn’t until later, I found out she had panic-texted her friend about how I had put a slice of fruit on top of chicken. THE Audacity I had to do that.. But soon after, she decided patio dinners needed to be way more frequent. After many dates, side-by-side rides, countless stories told, projects completed (mostly), millions of laughs, endless kisses, and moments that just felt right, we were made an offer we couldn’t pass up. Fall of 2024, we both sold our houses and moved to Bartelso. It’s crazy to feel this way. To just know, she's it. That this wonderful human, amazingly intelligent, kind and caring person, is the love of my life. So, 6 months into 2025, I proposed in front of our house. With the help of our loved ones, I secretly hired a photographer who snuck over from the neighbor’s yard. Hayden absolutely knew something was up as we were leaving the front door on our way to a summer date night. Especially when she pointed to the neighbor’s yard and said, “Juulllieee, why is there a lady taking pictures of us right now?”. With a pounding heart and shaking hands and a smile so big I couldn’t find words. I asked Hayden to be my forever. She said yes. She later proposed to me by convincing me we were having a Third of July party on our back patio. She planned it so perfectly that I never saw it coming. The days leading up to this surprise, I was begging to just have her give me the ring (because I knew she had to have it lol). But she made my moment special too. I love her for that. Her thoughtfulness, her love in return. Both proposals were perfect. Our rings are perfect. Hayden is perfect. Hayden is the most genuine, kind, thoughtful person I know. She is my Honey Girl. She laughs at my stupid jokes, supports my 100 half-finished projects, and knows me better than I know myself. We are always in each other’s corner. We were always almost. And now our worlds finally collided.