A day to remember

Some love stories begin with a grand, fateful moment—but ours started with a simple idea: “You two would be so cute together.” Thanks to our mutual friends playing matchmaker, we met and agreed to be each other’s dates for a wedding. Little did we know, that night would be the start of something incredible. From that day forward, we were inseparable—best friends who just got each other. For months, we spent countless hours laughing, talking, and making memories. And then, about six months later, we finally admitted what everyone else already knew: we were meant to be more than friends. Making it official was the easiest decision we’ve ever made. Another six months flew by, and life led us to another big step. Jackson had always dreamed of becoming a Marine, and there was never a question in my mind that I would support him in chasing his dreams. So, we took a leap—we moved in together, and I took on the adventure of holding down the fort, taking care of our home, our animals, and everything in between. It wasn’t always easy, but loving each other has always been effortless.

December 24th—Christmas Eve—my absolute favorite holiday. The day was already perfect: dinner with our great-grandparents, a drive through a Christmas light show synchronized to music, and a visit to a Christmas village where we picked out souvenirs to remember the night. It was magical, like something out of a movie. But the real magic happened later. We went to a beautifully decorated park to take pictures with the Christmas lights. As we were posing, a cop drove by, and out of nowhere, Jackson turned to me and whispered, “Hurry, act like we don’t know each other.” Confused, I spun around—only to find him down on one knee, a ring in his hand, asking if he could give me back scratches for the rest of my life. Cue the tears. So many tears. I screamed YES, and we spent the rest of the night celebrating, just the two of us, soaking in the moment. The next morning—Christmas morning—we shared the news with our family, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the room. Forever Starts Now From the moment we met, the “honeymoon phase” never faded. Every day together is filled with love, laughter, and the kind of happiness we used to only dream about. Now, we’re counting down the days until we say “I do,” knowing that this is just the beginning of the greatest adventure of our lives. We can’t wait to celebrate our love with all of you!