Jacob and I have a story that’s a bit unconventional, but then again, I wouldn’t have it any other way. We met through our best friend, Ethan, who thought we’d hit it off right from the start. He could see the spark and was certain we’d get along famously—until he realized that might make things a little too *weird* and quickly changed his mind. But fate, as it often does, had other plans, and we kept running into each other. It wasn’t long before we started hanging out more, and the connection grew naturally. As the world shifted into lockdown in 2020, something about that period of uncertainty brought us even closer. We became each other's “lockdown partners,” navigating life in the midst of a global pandemic. Suddenly, we were figuring out everything together—whether it was cooking dinners, binging shows, or just supporting each other when the world felt a little upside down. Our first apartment together was small but cozy, and it became the place where we truly learned how to live side by side, growing stronger as a team every day. Then, in 2021, we made another big decision—one that would shift our lives even more. We packed up our life in Waterloo and moved to Arnprior to live in my sister’s basement. The transition wasn’t easy, but we made it work, even if it meant living in a small space while navigating the mess of trying to figure out what our next step would be. For a year and a half, Jacob put up with my clutter, my chaos, and my love for organizing things in ways that probably didn’t make sense. But through it all, we built something special in that basement—a foundation for everything to come. And then, finally, we found our forever home. It was a place where we could create new memories and build the life we’d dreamed about. With a little patience and a lot of love, we knew this house was where we were meant to be. And so, in June 2024, Jacob decided it was time to make another big step in our journey together. With a heart full of excitement and a lifetime of love ahead of us, he proposed—asking me to continue this adventure, not just in a house, but as partners for life. And without hesitation, I said yes.