We actually went to the same high school, but we never really talked—just the kind of “oh yeah, I know who that is” familiarity. Years later, on September 18, 2018, Carli randomly messaged Ryan on Facebook and said, “Hey, how are you?” We had no idea that message would lead to anything big. One conversation turned into another, things just felt easy, and by October 21, 2018, we were officially dating.

During our family vacation at an Airbnb near Hocking Hills State Park in Ohio, I was inside making dinner while Ryan and Logan wandered up the road to get firewood. Little did I know, Ryan was actually using the walk to conduct very important business—asking Logan if he’d be okay with him marrying his mom. Thankfully, Logan didn’t demand snacks, Pokémon cards, or a new video game in exchange. When they got back, I was outside getting the grill ready, minding my own business. Ryan suddenly suggested we take a few family photos by the firepit—because nothing suspicious ever starts with “let’s take some pictures.” While he was fiddling with the camera like he was about to film a National Geographic special, Logan handed me his phone and asked what a message on it meant. I started reading the text—a sweet note about how much Ryan loved Logan and me—and immediately thought, “Why does Logan have this? And why is this man texting heartfelt love letters to a child?” Before I could fully process the confusion, I turned around and saw Ryan down on his “newly repaired” knee in the gravel, looking both romantic and slightly in pain. Then he asked me to marry him. And of course I said yes… otherwise this website wouldn’t exist and we wouldn't be telling this story.