Here's to forever...

You are probably expecting some perfect, romantic story as to how we met, but really it's quite simple. We swiped right and it's been history ever since! Phillip was working at the Fort Lauderdale airport and I was a General Manager at Panera Bread. Phillip worked from 4pm-2am while I worked from 7am-4pm. Since our schedules didn't align easily it took a little bit of time before we even got the chance to meet in person. Phillip did not give up easily. When we finally went on our first date it was as if we already knew each other. Needless to say, we didn't have a lot of opportunities where we could see each other so we always made it a priority. Phillip would always show me how important I was to him, by bringing me flowers or donuts when I had a bad day or leaving me surprises in my apartment to come home to. Most importantly he made me laugh all the time. Now almost 6 years later we have traveled the world together, bought our first house, and made the life we have always wanted together.

As many of you know Phillip and I traveled the country in our "cargo trailer conversion" named Tillie. We went to 13 national parks and over 30 different states. This was something Phillip and I had been working to achieve for years. Then Covid came along and screwed everything up. At one point we weren't even sure if we were going to be able to fulfill our dream. Thankfully, everything worked out and we were able to experience the trip of a lifetime. We packed up everything from Deerfield Beach and said goodbye to South Florida, our home of 10+ years. From there we headed to Phillip's parents house in Anderson SC, where Tillie began to take shape. Once the conversion was complete, we were off to start our big adventure. Smokey Mountains, Rocky Mountains, Arches, Zion, Grand Canyon, Sequoia, Yosemite, just to name a few. Phillip had always mentioned that he wanted our proposal to be absolutely epic with mountains and waterfalls, so naturally I thought that maybe there was a proposal in the near future. Although, as the trip went on with only two stops left, I began to wonder whether the proposal would even happen. Then, a week or so later, as our final hike of the day was coming to a close, something seemed different. As I was cold, tired and hangry, Phillip seemed to be very insistent on taking pictures. He kept insisting more and more photos almost as if he was trying to "get the shot right". It wasn't until I had had enough that I looked over and there he was down on one knee. I said "WHAT!? Right here? Right now?!", Phillip replied, "What? Is this not good enough?" and I replied "No it's perfect, I just wasn't expecting it." As he began to stand up I said "Wait, you never asked me a question." We both laughed, I cried, and with the question finally asked, the answer was obviously "YAASS". Phillip has shown me nothing but kindness, support, laughter, and exactly what true love really is over the years. I can't wait to see what forever has planned for us.