Telling this story of our BERN'in love (pun intended) is one of our favorite things to do. Not only to reminisce on the coincidence and how unexpected it was, but also just to share the honesty of how our story started to build. It was October, 10th 2024 here in Gainesville, Florida. Just a casual Thursday where two strangers decided to take the same CrossFit class at Risen Strength CrossFit in town. We both just started working out there during the same bring a friend week about 2 months before, but had yet to cross paths. On this particular day, I decided to take class during the evening which I rarely did when I first started. I was always a morning gal and if you know anything about Bernie, he is DEFINITELY NOT a morning gal. This 4:30pm class had to be a class of maybe 4-5 people so it was inevitable that we would lock eyes at some point. But I was too nervous and focused on the workout being a baby deer in the world of CrossFit. Yet, halfway through the workout, Bernie comes up to talk some CrossFit smack. But I played it calm, cool, and collected and finished the workout like any other day. Then, at the end of the workout, Bernie came over to shoot his shot, which ended up being quite the successful one. We found out that we had a group of mutual friends which made it easy to start conversation, but every day we hung out and every time we talked, I felt closer and closer to home. Bernie and I have known each other for less than 2 years, but it feels as though he has been apart of my whole life- it feels like he was right there for all of the lows that came before him and was there to celebrate all of the highs with me. I don't know how we've lived a life without each other prior to meeting in 2024. It has been such a blessing to have each other, and even more of a blessing to be apart of his daughter's lives and for our families to gradually blend. Every day with him is such a gift. Needless to say, you never know who might be waiting in your Suggested Friends on Facebook. They just might be the part of you that you've been missing up until now.

I (Casey) will take the reigns on this one, because after all he had this all planed out while I was just going on about my days for weeks, having no clue what this man had in the works. I remember telling Riley, my maid of honor, at the beginning of 2025 that I had this strong hunch that he was going to pop the question in November of 2025. I just could feel it in my bones. He was going to do it in St. Augustine, maybe at the beach? And around Thanksgiving during my family trip because I’ve mentioned in the past that I would love for our families to be there. But when I thought about it, man it would take a lot to pull that off. So I went along thinking, alright I have almost a whole year to get nervous about this and plan my nails, right? Wrong. Now, flash forward to April 2025. The Gators have just won the NCAA Basketball championship, I was in the process of transitioning jobs, and also getting a new car (important for the story). Little did I know, there was also a ring purchased. I later found out that he was holding onto this for weeks and was hiding it in the back of his truck that I was driving around for a couple weeks while my old car was in the shop. And again, there I was with zero clue or idea. 

Now it’s May! Mother’s Day and my mom’s Birthday had just passed and we planned to go to St. Pete the following weekend to celebrate with my family. This had been a plan for awhile. And, what I thought to be normal timing, Riley invited me to get a manicure with her. I’m generally one to get a crazy, long-planned design or wild color on my nails, but this time I wanted to match with Riley and whether she telepathically made that happen or the stars aligned, I ended up with a beautiful Funny Bunny. When we were done, I look at Riley and say “ok there, now I’m ready to get engaged!” Little did I know… Later in the week, Crystal, one of my bridesmaids, asked if we could get dinner and who am I to ever turn down a dinner and yap session with a friend! What I saw as a fun girls night out, was actually Bernie’s way of getting me out of the house so he could plan and get the flowers ready for the engagement a few days later. Thank you to Jenna, Garrett (groomsmen) and Riley (Maid of Honor) for making his vision come alive and making this all possible. And all along I just thought he was at home relaxing… little did I know. 

Sunday rolled around and we were off to St. Pete to see my mom and go to dinner! My family is not one to get all fancy and go to dinner, we are definitely a gather around the table and just stay in and cook kind of family. So when I found out that we were eating out for dinner I was thrown off, but still along for the ride! Everything seemed normal! Little did I know… We drove in separate cars to meet my grandpa and rest of my family. The girls in my family took another car and had to make a stop at Publix to get a cake for my mom, but really it was their way of stalling for Bernie to drive ahead and get set up. Little did I know… We show up, I called B to see where he was and he said he was just walking down the beach but he was with my family. So the girls made their trek to the back of the hotel where the restaurant allegedly would be. Still no sign of Bernie, but my aunt said to keep walking because I found my grandpa standing on the beach and then next thing you know. There he was. Standing surrounded by flowers and there was nothing else I could feel other than my whole body getting warm and flowing with tears. And I get emotional every time I think about this day.