We first met on July 4th at the Independence Day celebration at the Sports Complex, where our glances caught one another. We began a short-timed friendship and that was all it stayed at for while. We shortly fell out of contact with each other and didn't hear from one another for very long time. Only to reconnect 2 years later.

Justin found me again on Facebook, later admitting that one day, he simply thought of me and didn't think he'd actually find me but decided to search my name. To his surprise, there I was, name, picture and profile, right there. I would get the "Friend" notification and I would be just as surprised with a hint of excitement to read "Justin Willie wants to be friends". I "Accept". It only took a few minutes that I would receive a message and from there it begins. We reconnected and caught up about what we were doing in the 2 years that had passed. This time, Justin was not afraid to use the word "hun" and was a listener to every aspect of my days whether they were good or bad. At this time, it was more than hard days then good, and he was there every moment of it. We slowly began to care for each others feelings about our own personal lives and getting to know each other all over again. We were each other's saviors in our own way and we both made each other feel special, knowing we had each other.

Two important events were going on in the month of May this year. One, it was hunting/scouting season. Two, the first Thor movie was just released... Not only was I hunting/scouting with my brother, Nathan, but we also decided to camp for the night. Having just reconnected with Justin, of course there was no signal out at the Secret Fishing Spot. But while I laid there under the stars in the back of my brother's truck, with him snoring away, all I could think of was "What is he doing right now? Ugh! I wish I could get signal." Sure enough, I would later find out that Justin was texting me all night long with the text messages never received, this was the night that Justin FINALLY asked me out to the Thor movie back in town! Ahhhhh! He still brings up the fact that he finally asked me out and I wasn't responding back to him that night, he thought maybe I wasn't interested, he felt embarrassed and considered leaving it at that. BUT, I finally returned to town and was able to text him. I was so anxious and I honestly thought, I missed my chance with him. But thankfully, he would later respond back to me and we would plan our first date. Our date would be a night out on the town, driving and talking mostly. We would later commence our relationship with our first kiss on the evening of May 24, 2011.

9 years later and we, finally, welcomed our first baby boy in May 2020. We were absolutely excited and scared, but we were also, complete. There was no more just the two of us, there was three of us now. Our little boy saved us from a whole world of heartache after the losses of Justin and I's fathers, the late Emerson Willie and Jonathan Avery. We would give the honor to our son to be named, Emerson Jonathan Willie, after the two devoted, caring and loveable fathers that ever lived. We miss them a little more that each day passes especially with our Wedding coming up, but we know they are with us, always.

It was a normal day of being at home with our little family. Days lately have been very tough and stressful. Never ever did we think that we would parenting and experiencing our new family life during a pandemic. That the world, would be experiencing such loss, grief and sickness. But on a certain day, we had a good day, we were safe at home, just finished up dinner and played with our son. I laid down for a nap, Justin came in and laid with me... It was quiet for a few minutes and when I thought he had dozed off, just as I was about to. Justin held me a little tighter and then out of the silence of the room he said, "Will you marry me?" Feeling calm and relaxed, I rolled over to look at him and said, "Yes." Nothing more, nothing less. It was perfect. We kept our engagement in secret with only a handful of people who knew. Until, we finally made the announcement after we went on a unexpecting stroll through the jewelry department one day. Justin would surprise me there and tell me to pick out a ring. We would spend almost an hour, trying on rings and then finally deciding on the first one that I saw. Haha. I finally felt complete and was so excited to make it official and to send out the announcements of our upcoming Wedding!