We met at a party! Justin's childhood friend, Nate, and my childhood friend, Valerie, were getting married back in 2018. The ladies celebrated Val's wedding shower earlier that day and the men were out for Nate's bachelor party. I got a call from Nate making sure I was going to be at the house party later that night. He had friends that he wanted me to meet before the wedding. I almost did not go. I had intended to fly home to Georgia, but I guess destiny had other plans. All the gals sat around the kitchen table, playing games and chit chatting when the guys arrived. Justin walked in and I was smitten. Later that night we got to talking about airplanes, music and (surprise, surprise) Alaska. In the middle of our conversation I realized I felt as if I had known him all my life. From there we fell into a friendship then a relationship. Now here we are gettin' hitched.

In the early days of Sarah and Justin, I decided to take some advice and try to win Justin through his stomach. Nate and Val's wedding reception was about the fourth time we were to see each other in person. I missed his birthday so I wanted to make up for it. I wanted to make him his favorite dessert, strawberry shortcake. The day before we left for the reception, I was running late and had no time to make his birthday treat. Lucky for me, I have an extraordinary baker of a sister who was at home and available for my every need. [Mind you. This was early in the relationship. I knew he was special but I didn't want to get anyone's hopes up so I didn't tell Emma or my mom about him] So I call Emma, said a little white lie... "Em, V needs strawberry shortcakes for dessert tonight. Will you make them for me?" Sure thing. Anything for the bride. So Emma is making the biscuits and mom chopped the strawberries. Let the record show that I did chop one or two strawberries before my mom made me go pack. That night after we set up for the reception, I took Justin a side to give him the dessert. He was surprised and thankful. The next day, Emma came to the reception with Jake and I introduced them to Justin. Emma gave me the 'I know you have a crush, why didn't you tell me more' big sister glance. I shot her the 'I'll tell you more' look us sisters know all too well. It all was fine and well till I saw them talking again and I said to myself, "I need to let Emma in the loop before spills the beans." Welp. too little too late.. In their conversation, Justin mentioned how much he enjoyed the shortcake and Emma said of thing to the affect, "Thanks I made them" and joyfully, unknowingly threw me under the bus. I was caught red handed and will never live that down. A few weeks later when I met his friends, they knew me as "the strawberry shortcake girl" MORAL of the STORY always tell your sister when you are making special/ secret birthday strawberry shortcake.