We both attended Sweetwater High School, but our story didn't truly begin until after Jacob graduated. A mutual friend thought we might hit it off and gave us each other's numbers. What started as a few simple conversations quickly turned into talking every day and getting to know one another better. Before long, those conversations led to our first date, and it didn't take long for us to realize there was something special between us. From that moment on, our relationship continued to grow, and we have been by each other's side ever since. Looking back, it's amazing to think that after crossing paths for years, all it took was one friend sharing our numbers to start the journey that brought us here today.
Our first date is definitely one we'll never forget. After church one Sunday, Jacob came over to Alyssa's house to spend the afternoon together. At the time, Jacob didn't have any dogs, but Alyssa had three (Chiti, Thumper, and Harley). As soon as he arrived, he was greeted by Thumper, a lovable boxer who had absolutely no concept of personal space. After letting Jacob in, Alyssa went to grab a few DVDs of Criminal Minds for them to watch. While she was gone, Jacob made himself comfortable on the couch, only to have Thumper sit eye-to-eye right beside him. Alyssa's mom jokingly warned him that Alyssa would probably kick him out of his spot. Sure enough, when Alyssa came back into the room, that's exactly what happened! The two spent the afternoon watching episodes, talking, and getting to know each other. As the day went on, Jacob took Alyssa to dinner at what would become one of their favorite places, The Gondolier. But even after dinner, neither of them was quite ready for the date to end. They decided to go for a drive to Watts Bar and spent more time talking and enjoying each other's company. What started as a simple afternoon together turned into the beginning of something special. Looking back now, it's easy to see that neither of them wanted the day to end—and the rest, as they say, is history.
Since we started dating, we've celebrated so many milestones together. We went from being teenagers figuring out life to building a future side by side. Along the way, we experienced Jacob's first job, attended junior and senior prom together, celebrated Alyssa's high school graduation, and navigated the college years. As the years went on, we continued to grow together. We welcomed Cooper into Jacob's life, celebrated Alyssa graduating college and starting her career, and eventually purchased the house that would become our future home. We then added Rory to our family and spent countless hours renovating our home and making it our own. Looking back, it's incredible to see how much life we've shared over the years. Every milestone, big or small, has brought us closer together and helped shape the life we've built. Now, we're excited to add another chapter to our story as we plan our wedding and prepare to become husband and wife.
Over the years, we may not have officially been a family yet, but we have certainly built a life together. From the very beginning, both of our families welcomed each of us with open arms and treated us as one of their own. A few years into dating, Jacob got Cooper, who quickly became a big part of our lives. Later, Alyssa purchased a house that we have spent countless hours renovating and turning into our future home. Together, we've painted walls, tackled projects, and dreamed about what our future would look like under that roof. Not long after, we welcomed Rory into our lives, making our little family feel complete. Between our families, our home, and our two pups, we've built a life filled with love, laughter, and memories. While we're excited to officially become husband and wife, in many ways we've already spent years creating the foundation for our life together.