It all began with a swipe. As I was about to log off Facebook Dating, Aaron’s picture appeared, and something told me I had to swipe right. I liked his profile but didn’t send a message. The next day, to my surprise, I had a message from Aaron. He was upfront—he wasn’t looking for anything serious, just someone to talk to and a friend to lean on. That was fine with me. Having just gone through a breakup five months prior, I wasn’t looking for anything either. We messaged often, and eventually, he asked for my phone number. I hesitated at first, opting to keep our conversations on Facebook Messenger. But after a week, he asked if he could call me, and I finally gave in. The moment I heard his voice, I was in awe—it was calming, deep, and reassuring. I just knew he was special. From that night on, we talked nearly every day. After three months of late-night conversations and getting to know one another, we decided it was time to meet. We picked Bismarck as our halfway point. I arrived first, and—true to his nature—Aaron showed up fashionably late (though he insists he’s always early!). The moment I saw him and he wrapped me in a big hug, I felt something I hadn’t felt in a long time—home. Our connection was effortless. We talked as if we had known each other forever, and when the weekend came to an end, it didn’t feel like we were parting ways. From that moment on, we were inseparable. A Leap of Faith In August 2021, life threw me a curveball. I learned that my job at the Health Department was being cut due to funding changes, and to top it off, my townhouse was being put up for sale. When I told Aaron, he immediately suggested I look for opportunities in Grand Forks, knowing I had considered moving before. The very next day, I started job hunting, and within a week, I had seven interviews and landed a position at a school. Without hesitation, I packed up, sold a lot of my belongings, and made the move. Aaron had already found me an apartment and was there, alongside my dad, helping me settle in. Everything about us just worked. It felt like the universe had finally aligned in our favor. Two years into our relationship, we started talking about marriage. We both knew deep down that this was it—we were meant to be. In September 2022, I moved in with Aaron, and by February, we decided to start fresh somewhere new. We spent months fixing up his house, painting, installing new flooring, and updating countertops. By June 2023, the house was on the market. The Proposal As Christmas passed with no ring, I thought, Maybe Valentine’s Day? Aaron would always ask if I was a “big gesture” kind of person, and I’d tell him no—I don’t like being the center of attention. Well, on February 9, 2024, Aaron took “in sickness and in health” quite literally. I was home sick that day, lounging in my bathrobe with messy hair and no makeup. He put a ring on my finger and stood there waiting. I stared at him, waiting for him to actually ask me. Finally, I said, "Are you going to say it?" To which he laughed and asked, "Well, will you?" Of course, I said yes! (Though I still tease him that he could’ve let me at least look decent—after all, my daughter wanted my grandma name to be Glama for a reason!) In May 2024, we sold the house and made another move—this time to Moorhead. Then, in October 2024, we achieved a dream together by purchasing our dream home in Dilworth, Minnesota. Nestled in a charming community, our new home is the perfect place to start the next chapter of our lives. Now, after more than three years together, we can say we’ve never had a big fight. We communicate well, we do everything together, and we even enjoy crafting—making signs and planters. He puts up with my shenanigans, and I embrace his quirks. We truly believe we were meant to be. And now, as we get ready to say I do on August 23, 2025, at the beautiful Bella Villa Estate in Pensacola, Florida, we can’t wait to celebrate with the people we love most by our side.