Gabby's story: In January of 2020 Jacob and I matched on Tinder. Our relationship began on over the phone as we were able to facetime a lot before his first deployment. When he left for his deployment we had little communication. Some days he would be able to call for an hour and others day it was only 15 minutes but it was always worth it to hear his voice and made my days better. When he returned home in September of 2020 we picked up our facetimes more regularly and decided he would come to Virginia weekend of October 8th, 2020 was our first weekend together. The moment he said that he was here and I saw him come around the corner for the very first time I jumped in his arms and hugged him so tight, I did not want to let go. I could not believe he was FINALLY here!!! That weekend I showed him around my hometown, our first dinner date was at the Yard House. I commented on the coasters they had and Jacob asked the server right away if we could have extra coasters so that he could give me a few. At that moment I knew was a keeper. After dinner I took Jacob to the oceanfront to walk the boardwalk at the beach where we had our first kiss. We then got some ice cream and just talked for hours into the night. After we went back home to relax we found ourselves baking cookies and dancing to all kinds of music until about 4 am. So many moment moments before meeting him I knew was the one for me, but while dancing with him all night it really hit me that he was the one I had been praying for. The following day I took him to Mount Trashmore, where I usually went on my runs and to watch the sunsets. Sitting on a park bench looking at the water, Jacob asked me to be his girlfriend. That Sunday morning we had breakfast at the Village Inn which became our usual spot for breakfast when he came to town. As he was leaving to go back to base he slipped and said that he loved me (we both pretended neither of us heard it). I remember driving to work that night crying with so many feelings of happiness and thanking God I finally found the one I would love for a lifetime. From that moment on we were inseparable. Flash forward to April of 2023, the same bench he asked to be his girlfriend at is where he asked me to marry him. Jacob's story: It all started early of January 2020, I swiped right on this beautiful girl from Virginia, just a few days after talking we first facetimed with a night full of laughter and getting to know each other. Then I embarked on my deployment. Roughly 3 weeks in I had a chance to call her for the first time, although she denied my calls the first few times thinking they were span calls she luckily answered on the third call and I got to hear her beautiful voice. From there on I called every 2-3 days to talk to her for about 20 minutes. I came home early September and went home to see my family, once back in NC, Gabby and I set a weekend to meet for the first time. Friday, October 8th, was the first time I drove to Virginia to meet the girl I had talked to for so long. I remember being nervous but also excited. When I turned the corner Gabby was already sprinting at me and leaped into my arms. From there on we went on our official first date the Yard House and then she planned to show me around Virginia Beach. We walked down the boardwalk and decided one of us would be the top dog in air hockey at an arcade which I loved because it showed me she had a competitive side. After my easy win we walked to get ice cream while talking and laughing the rest of the night. Heading back to the car, being the gentleman I am, opened her car door and snuck in our first official kiss. When we got home we danced and sang until about 3 or 4 am. The next morning Gabby took me to her spot, Mount Trashmore, and we found a bench ("our bench") to sit on. Here is where I asked Gabby to be my girlfriend and later my wife. I remember driving home calling my mom telling her about my weekend with the most amazing girl in the whole world.