We met in junior high school in Pittsburgh at 14 and 15 years old. We lived one street away from each other, spending a lot of our nights running the neighborhood with friends until the street lights came on. We had many late nights of playing basketball with my dad, because I would refuse to lose to them. “Just one more game”. Throughout high school, we spent time together playing football and cheering for our West Allegheny Indians. We still laugh and talk about some of those memories. After graduation in 2000/2001, our lives took us separate ways. Jason moved South and I ended up moving to Pickerington, Ohio. Staying in touch through social media, we were able to still see glimpses of each others lives. October 2021, I received a message from Jason just catching up on life. He made the drive to Ohio to see me in January of 2022, and we have been inseparable ever since. For the next 3 years, we made the 598.2 mile trip every 6-8 weeks to see each other from North Carolina to Ohio. Jason got along with my kids from the moment they met, and they haven’t stopped making fun of me since. I prayed for a long time that the kids and I would find someone to love us the way we deserve. Jason is that piece. After asking the kids and my parents for their permission, Jason asked me to marry him in March of 2024. On the beach before dinner at my favorite Mexican restaurant, he got down on one knee and gave me the moment in life I thought I’d never have. How could I say no?! The beach, kids, family, and tacos….sign me up 😂. He makes sure we laugh every day, protects us fiercely, and loves us more than I could have ever prayed for. I’m thankful that life circled back around for us, and that God gave us such a blessing. We both experienced a lot of highs and lows in the years we were apart, but it led us to exactly where we are supposed to be 🩵