It was 1997, and little did I know that a simple act of kindness would lead to a love story that would last a lifetime. Pepsi and I met through a mutual friend, but our first real connection came when I noticed he was struggling to peel his shrimp. Without thinking twice, I helped him out. It was one of those random moments that would later become a cornerstone of our relationship. The funny part? Pepsi was actually supposed to date my friend, but somehow, we ended up falling for each other instead. Our connection was undeniable. A few months after meeting, Pepsi asked me to marry him. We were both young — I was just 18 — but I knew, without a doubt, that I wanted to spend my life with him. But not everyone was on board. Our parents, understandably, were worried about how young we were. They didn’t approve of our relationship. It felt a little like a modern-day Romeo and Juliet, minus the tragic ending. In 2000, despite the lack of family support, we decided to elope. It was an act of love, but also one of defiance. Our hearts knew what we wanted, even if the world wasn’t quite ready to understand. Our first few years were a whirlwind of love, challenges, and growth. We bought our first home in 2003, and life started to take shape. Pepsi worked hard, supporting both of us while I focused on school. He put me through nursing school, working tirelessly so I could attend full-time. It wasn’t always easy, but our commitment to each other never wavered. It was a true partnership. We faced plenty of bumps along the way, but we always knew we were in this together. In 2007, I graduated from nursing school — a moment I’ll never forget, especially because of how much Pepsi sacrificed to help me achieve it. He never once complained about the long hours or the financial strain; he just kept going, because he believed in me. Pepsi’s hard work paid off in ways I hadn’t even imagined. In 2017, he started his own business, a dream he’d worked toward for years. That year, I also retired from nursing to stay home with our children. It was time for me to focus on my family, especially our daughter Audrie, who had been diagnosed with Autism, Apraxia, and Sensory Processing Disorder in 2013. In 2015, we moved to our current home, and life slowed down in the best way. We started enjoying the simple pleasures — lazy days, family outings, and watching our kids grow. Audrie, born September 18, 2010, is a constant reminder of the love Pepsi and I share. She’s also a spitting image of him, both in looks and personality, and she’s our first baby, our special daughter. Then there’s Enzo, born on July 10, 2014. He shares the same birthday as both of Pepsi’s grandfathers, making him extra special in the Porciuncula family. Watching these two grow has been one of the greatest joys of my life. Looking back on everything we’ve been through — from eloping young, to buying our first house, to navigating career changes and family challenges — it’s clear to me that our journey has always been about resilience, love, and choosing each other every single day. We’ve always loved staying home together, eating out, shopping, and taking trips to theme parks, but most of all, we just love being with our kids. When they’re happy, we’re happy. Now, as I look at our family today, I’m grateful for everything that brought us here. Our journey wasn’t always easy, but it was ours, and that makes it all the more special.