Most know the simple story of when Kaitlin and I met: In the college dorms freshman year 2018, and we have been dating ever since that December. But, there is more to that than you would expect. Before the friendship the two of us had, before the first day of classes, even before moving into the dorms, there was a time I saw Kaitlin and immediately fell in love. And although I didn't know that it was her at the time, I do remember it pretty vividly -- June 30th, 2018, around a month and a half before my first semester at ASU started, there was a freshman orientation I attended. Obviously since there are thousands of incoming freshman, not every single one was there for this particular day, but a good chunk were. Here, I was able to meet me new roommate, other students in my major, and of course across the room, I see Kaitlin. And like I said, I didn't know it was Kaitlin at the time, but I could not take my eye off this girl. I remember thinking maybe there would be a time I could at least talk to her and introduce myself, and maybe there was an opportunity there, but I never did... As I was walking back to the hotel after the day ended I was kicking myself because I thought, "that is the most beautiful girl I have ever seen in my life, and I may never get the chance to meet her". Luckily, God had other plans, because lo and behold: first day in the dorms, I see orientation girl walk by. Now I may have freaked out on the inside a little bit, but I have to pat myself on the back because I think I played it pretty cool. Kaitlin and I ended up meeting naturally and becoming pretty close friends. We hung out in groups together, attended various events, went to eat at restaurants or the dining hall, and each developed real feelings for one another. When I eventually did tell Kaitlin about my feelings for her, most would be scared away when they hear the words: "I have liked you before you knew I ever existed". Which yes, hearing that phrase back, it is very creepy and most would run away. Luckily, Kaitlin is not most. We'll say she found it "charming", but it all worked out because we have been together and happy ever since. I couldn't image myself with anyone else, Kaitlin truly is my better half and makes it so easy to love her. Truly remarkable that 7 years later, nearly to the exact day of freshman orientation, I will get to call her my wife.

My whole relationship with Brayden I attribute to the stars aligning and God placing us both where we needed to be at the right times. For some backstory I never had a dream college I wanted to attend, but when I visited ASU I knew I had to go there, under on one condition...that I would NOT stay in the disgusting dorm Best B. This is the dorm building that the design and Art kids are put in, but it's also one of the oldest on campus. Community bathroom, roaches, weird smells, everything. I instead told myself I would apply to the honors college (since they had the nicest and newest dorms) and only go to ASU if I was accepted. I was not. But against my former statement, I felt that I still really needed to go to ASU so, I accepted the offer and off I went. As Brayden said, June 30th was our freshman orientation... and I was sick with a head cold. I was just trying to make it through the day and don't remember anyone or anything besides meeting my roommate. The only photo I took of this day was a picture of important dates on the presentation (this is important for later). Finally it was move in day and there I was, moving into Best B. But thank God I did, or Brayden and I probably would've never met. When I first met Brayden it was about the second day of college. The college was having a welcome event and my roommate and I were standing in line when Brayden and his roommate came up and mentioned they lived in our building. So we introduced ourselves and went to the event together. After that the 4 of us all became great friends. About a month in I started realizing maybe I liked Brayden more than a friend. He actually took up all my thoughts. I would lay awake and plan my outfit for the next day to make sure I looked cute. Always painted my nails incase he noticed. Memorized his baseball schedule and would "go fill up my water bottle" in the hall just to run into him and say hi. I had an instagram account between my highschool friends where I would update them on if we were dating or not. Reading this back that is absolutely so embarrassing. One day, his class was canceled and I skipped mine to hang out (sorry mom and dad). I even went to all the sporting events to impress him with my love of sports (I do not love sports). This included a 24 hour bus trip to LA for a football game. Anyway, you get the point, I was literally obsessed and no one knew it (until now that I'm telling everyone haha). I pulled out all the stops trying to get him to like me back, unbeknownst that he liked me long before I knew him. Finally, it got to the point where he was living rent free in my head. I would never make the first move so I prayed that if it was meant to be, it would be, and went on living my life. That night I had a dream where our friends were all on a trip together and Brayden and I snuck away to talk and he told me he liked me. Weirdly enough, later that month our friend group decided to go on a weekend trip. When the trip came around, Brayden did pull me aside and told me he liked me since orientation. Like my dream coming true. He told me how he wanted to marry me and saw us growing old and watching sports together. It was all planned out since day 1, and now here we are 7 years later. In the end, I did see Brayden on June 30 orientation, I just didn't know it. You remember that photo I mentioned taking a photo of at orientation ? Well, the only person visible in it, is Brayden.