Sometimes timing really is everything. Jake and I both found ourselves in Zionsville, Indiana at the same moment in our lives - ready for a fresh start. Though neither of us had deep roots in Indiana, it turned out to be exactly where we were meant to meet. Jake grew up in Fort Myers, Florida and made his way to Indiana through his cousin, while I was teaching in Indiana after attending Indiana University in Bloomington. We met just over three years ago, and from the very beginning, Jake stood out to me. His witty personality, humor, kindness, and respect made me feel instantly comfortable - like we had known each other for years. One of our first dates involved a get-to-know-you card game, which broke the ice and helped us to start building a deep connection. What also connected us early on was a shared dream of warmer weather and a life beyond Indiana. With his family in the Fort Myers area and my parents in Naples, Florida, it felt like the obvious next chapter. We spent our first year in Indiana growing together, then took a leap of faith and made the move to Florida - a move that only strengthened our relationship. We’ve fully embraced the Florida sunshine these past two years, from Jake’s year-round pickleball to my love for the beach and sunsets. Together, we’ve discovered a shared passion for shelling and exploring new beaches, turning every outing into a scavenger hunt and building an impressive shell collection along the way. That love for shelling made Jake’s proposal even more special. Just one week before our third anniversary, we spent the day at Barefoot Beach - one of our favorite shelling spots. After hours of searching the shore, I had no idea what was coming. Jake had hidden a note inside one of my favorite shells, and as I pulled it out, he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I was completely shocked and happily said "YES!" We celebrated with a perfect day together - lunch, shopping, and a movie - and it was a moment I’ll cherish forever. That day inspired us to get married on Barefoot Beach, and we couldn’t imagine a more meaningful place to begin our forever.