till death do us part

Kaitlyn and I first met in elementary school at Community Christian Academy. She quickly became best friends with my sister Vaniah, which meant she was always around—family vacations, our house on Elderberry, and countless memories. From a young age, I knew I loved her. We led the “Fruit of the Spirit” song at chapel, watched movies together, and I took every chance I could to hold her hand—especially during games like the Deep Dark Ditch in the front yard. Though we both felt something more, fear (mostly of Vaniah) kept us just friends. That friendship carried into high school, and in 2018 she asked me to Homecoming. It was magical—but still, neither of us took the leap. Life moved us in different directions until years later, while I was in the Navy, I found an old note she had written in my sixth-grade science book. I sent her a picture of it, breaking years of silence, and that sparked a five-and-a-half-hour phone call that wasn't long enough—and we’ve talked every day since. When I finally saw her again in person, I knew instantly she was my wife. Watching the woman she had become took my breath away. From holidays with each other’s families to shared faith and love, everything felt right. God’s timing brought us back together, and every step before prepared us for this. When you know, you know—and putting our faith in God brought us more than we ever imagined.

It all started at Community Christian Academy, where I became best friends with Kaden’s sister, Vaniah—meaning I basically moved into the Vitto household. Movies, school nights, holidays, vacations… I was always tagging along. Somewhere along the way, Kaden easily became one of my best friends too. He made me laugh endlessly, we always had fun, and I could be completely myself around him. We did chapel together, nervously singing in front of everyone. When we would be at the Vitto's, I would try to hint at Vaniah or joke that we should go "mess" with Kaden. I miiiiight’ve had a tiny crush on my best friend’s brother, but I loved him and Vaniah too much to ever act on it. Fast forward to high school: I was a senior, Kaden was a sophomore, and somehow the spark and silliness were still there. I asked him to Homecoming (yes, I drove obviously). It became my favorite dance ever: inner-child energy, nonstop laughs, and just the two of us being us. We kept things friendly though, enjoying each other's company. After high school, life took us in completely different directions, but I always checked on his social media just seeing what he was up to. Then one day, out of nowhere, I got a text of a note I’d written him in middle school—one he had ripped out of the school book and kept all these years. That little note turned into a nearly six-hour phone call I didn’t want to end. When he came to see me months later, I opened the gate, immediately panicked, and nearly threw up. That first hug felt like the warmest welcome home. When I finally looked up, I realized he wasn’t little Kaden anymore—he was a strong, handsome, God-fearing man with the same laugh and an even bigger heart. Seeing the man he became through his years in the Navy, growing in the Lord and His love, I knew—it had always been him. A romance full of laughter, history, faith, and God’s perfect timing. What God began, He so faithfully carried us through.