We first met about 19 years ago at the mall while Ree was at work. We exchanged numbers and quickly became close. From the very beginning, being together felt easy. We laughed constantly, enjoyed each other’s company, and built a genuine connection in a short amount of time. Life, however, had other plans. At that point in my life, I was a free spirit trying to figure things out. After learning that I was about to become a father, I made some choices that ultimately caused us to lose touch. Looking back, it wasn’t one of my proudest moments, but sometimes life has a way of teaching us lessons before bringing us back to where we’re meant to be. Over the years, our paths crossed from time to time. We would see each other through mutual connections and hear about one another, but the timing was never quite right. Then, years later, after another chapter of life had ended for me, I saw Ree again at a party and knew I wanted another chance. At first, she wasn’t interested in reopening that door. The occasional Instagram message didn’t get me very far, and she definitely made me work for her attention. Several months later, we crossed paths again at another party. This time was different. I wasn’t going to let the opportunity pass by. We spent time talking, catching up on everything life had brought us through since we first met. I walked her next door to her shop, and what started as a conversation quickly became something much more. As we spent more time together, we couldn’t help but wonder what we had missed all those years. The connection we felt nearly two decades earlier was still there—only now we were older, wiser, and ready for the kind of relationship we both deserved. Over the next two years, our love grew stronger through every conversation, every challenge, every laugh, and every dream we shared. We built a relationship rooted in faith, friendship, trust, and a shared vision for our future. Then came the easiest decision of all: asking her to spend forever with me. She said yes and now as we prepare to become husband and wife on November 7, 2026, we’re grateful for every twist, turn, and detour that brought us back to one another. Our story is proof that God’s timing is perfect and that some people are meant to find their way back to each other. We can’t wait to celebrate this next chapter with all of our family and friends.