It all started back in 2010. I was in the fifth grade at Johnson Elementary School and DJ had started sixth grade at Pepperell Middle School. All in the same year, at different schools, friendships were blossoming. I met my best friend, now Matron of Honor, Ansley, and DJ met his best friend, now Best Man, Kiah. Kiah and Ansley have known each other through church from a very early age. Through Ansley, I met Kiah, which led to meeting his best friend, DJ. DJ and I became extremely close right off the bat. From late night Wendy's Frosty's, to long, mindless drives in his 1995 Jeep Wrangler, we were attached at the hip-- best friends. DJ cared so deeply for me; and I, him. He was there for me through a death in the family, a breakup, and even the unpredictable hormones of the 19 year old I was. On the night of August 18, 2019, the night before my birthday, DJ picked me up with the top and doors off his Jeep and wouldn't tell me where we were going. We went to get our usual Wendy's Jr. Frosty and then he took me to the parking lot behind the clocktower that over looks the city. He had a hammock for his Jeep called a "Jammock" and we sat on the top of his Jeep overlooking the city. He told me he wanted to wait until the clocktower struck midnight so he could wish me a happy birthday and then he would take me home. Little did we know, at the time, the city had set the Clocktower to not chime at night. Conversation carried us mindlessly past midnight. He randomly checked his phone and realized it was past midnight, then leaned over to hug me and wished me a happy birthday. BUTTERFLIES!!! I knew from that moment on that this man cared for me like no one had ever cared for me. He celebrated me. He supported me. He loved me. After a little over a month of realizing our feelings for each other, he asked me to be his girlfriend on September 26, 2019. Going on 6 years of loving DJ has been one of the greatest gifts God has given me. In April of 2024, we took a trip to Disney World with our closest friends. DJ planned with Kiah and our friends on how to propose. He chose a "Secret Garden" setting in Epcot's United Kingdom in the World Showcase. It was magical, as things are in Disney World and when you love a man like DJ. Now I get to marry my best friend on May 31st, a day after his 26th birthday. I hope it's as special of a birthday as he made mine all those years ago, and all the ones that have followed. I'm so thankful to be loved by you, DJ; and so incredibly excited to marry you on May 31st. Here's to forever.