We're getting married!

Douw and Kelsey had been drawn to each other since high school. For four years, their connection simmered beneath stolen glances and quiet admiration, an unspoken bond that neither had the courage to act on. There were moments where it felt like the universe was nudging them closer. But life had a way of pulling them apart before they could ever truly begin. Then, on a seemingly ordinary night November 18, 2022 destiny intervened. Neither of them had planned to be at that bar. Maybe it was chance, or maybe something greater had orchestrated it. When Douw’s eyes met Kelsey’s across the dimly lit room, time slowed. For a heartbeat, it was just the two of them, the noise and the crowd fading into the background. She was more beautiful than he remembered, and something about the way she smiled half surprised, half unsure told him she felt it too. Douw wasn’t about to let this moment slip away. With a deep breath, he walked over, his heart pounding. He made her laugh, and just like that, their conversation flowed effortlessly. Every word, every glance, felt like a piece of fate clicking into place. That night, they left the bar together not as strangers, not as old friends, but as something new, something inevitable. From that moment on, they were inseparable. But time was not on their side. Just three months. That was all they had before Douw would leave for the USA. It wasn’t enough time it would never be enough but they refused to waste a single second. They spent their days wrapped in each other, chasing every moment with reckless abandon. Late-night drives with music blasting, whispered confessions under starlit skies, laughter so deep it left them breathless. They weren’t just falling in love; they were racing against time, desperate to make memories strong enough to withstand the coming distance. And then, on February 23, 2023, with love and certainty anchoring his heart, Douw got down on one knee. Kelsey’s breath hitched. The world spun. Through tear filled eyes, she saw the man who had once been a distant longing and was now her undeniable future. In that moment, nothing else mattered. Not time, not distance. Just them. But love, no matter how deep, is tested by separation. When Douw left for the USA, the ache of his absence was unbearable. Days stretched endlessly, and every time they hung up the phone, the silence was deafening. Yet, they refused to let the miles define them. They fought for each other, through every time zone, through every lonely moment. Kelsey knew she had to be with him. So she made the leap. Leaving behind everything she knew, she followed her heart across the ocean. But even as they stood on the same soil again, life didn’t make it easy. Long hours, exhaustion, the quiet pressure of starting over in a foreign place. Some days, the weight of it all felt crushing. But love has a way of conquering even the greatest challenges. Through every obstacle, they chose each other again and again and finally, after months apart, they moved in together, side by side in North Dakota. Their love didn’t just survive the distance it thrived beyond it. They built a life filled with adventure, laughter, and unwavering devotion. A home built not just with walls and furniture, but with memories, dreams, and endless love. They grew stronger as individuals, but even stronger as a couple teaching each other the true meaning of patience, trust, and unwavering devotion. Their love story a testament to what happens when two people refuse to give up on each other, no matter the obstacles life throws their way Together, they traveled. Shared new experiences, and chased first-time adventures. Every moment, every challenge, only strengthened the foundation they had built. This is a love story that has been years in the making, shaped by fate, love, respect and an unshakable belief that they were meant to be. And as they stand on the brink of forever, one thing is certain This is only the beginning.