Our story started in the late summer of 2016, when we started our high school marching band camp. I was in drumline and Kaitlyn was the drum major. We started to hang out with the same group and naturally began to form a friendship. There were many occasions where we’d get quality time with each other, like bus rides to band competitions, going out to eat after football games, and game nights with friends. As we got to know each other better, our emotional connection grew and we started to have strong feelings for one another. By the end of 2016, Kaitlyn was definitely ready to start dating, while I on the other hand was not. However, I still asked her to winter formal, which marks our first "real" date. Eventually, on February 17, 2017, on the night of the Sadie Hawkin’s dance, I surprised Kaitlyn by asking her to be my girlfriend. Life was so fun in high school, together. Kaitlyn and I were involved in many of the same activities/ clubs, but also supported each others individual interests, like our different sports. We enjoyed a lot of quality time together and quickly became close to each other's families. When Kaitlyn graduated high school in May 2018, we knew that things weren’t going to look the same for much longer, as she was going to NAU in Flagstaff and I had to finish my senior year. Kaitlyn left in August 2018 and we started our 5-year journey of long distance. We had no idea what to expect or if our relationship would survive, but we knew we loved each other. We made trips to see each other about once a month. It was always a nice time but far too short and so difficult to say goodbye. In 2022, Kaitlyn graduated with her Bachelors degree and got accepted into the MSW program at NAU, signing us up for another year of long distance. It quickly became clear that Kaitlyn did not want to move back to Tucson after she graduated and when she did graduate in 2023, she immediately got offered a job at the hospital. We were all ecstatic and supportive of her taking it, but that’s when I knew I had to sacrifice something in order to fully pursue my relationship with Kaitlyn. As the summer rolled around, I was genuinely having a great time in Tucson. I was playing in a band, super involved in church, got lots of family time, enjoying my job, and living with my best friend. I was very comfortable and I didn’t realize what I was missing. In the fall of 2023, Kaitlyn and I had some serious, much-needed conversations about where our relationship was headed. We came to the obvious conclusion that one of us had to make a sacrifice in order to make our relationship work. Although reluctant, I decided to look for job and housing opportunities in Flagstaff. By the beginning of November, I had secured housing for January 2024 with three strangers (who I became great friends with) and was feeling better about moving. By the time January hit, I was excited to move and to be only 2 miles away from Kaitlyn, rather than 270 miles. I had two job interviews within days of arriving in Flag and got offered both of them. It was an interesting couple weeks, getting used to being close to Kaitlyn, starting this new job, living with strangers, and living in snow, but I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. Over the next eight months, Kaitlyn and I got involved in Bible studies, did worship team, hung out consistently, and started to share the same friends. It was so good to “catch up” on lost time. In July 2024, I asked Kaitlyn's parents for their blessing and their daughter’s hand in marriage. They were very excited for us and I started to plan the proposal. On August 31, 2024 Kaitlyn and I planned to hike Kendrick Peak, however, I insisted on starting with a shorter, scenic hike and that is where I proposed to her. She said yes! We continue to grow in closeness every day because we keep God at the center of our relationship. Our goal in life is to honor Him and please Him with how we love one another and those around us.