We're getting married!

On Friday, January 17, 2020, this love story began. Tyler was passing through KC while traveling for work. On a whim, he flipped through Bumble (a dating app proven successful by this love story). He hadn’t used the app in years. To his surprise, a message from his future wife was waiting. “What’s cookin’ good lookin’?” We can laugh at how cheesy she started the conversation, but it’s truly a prequel to the kind of love they have found within one another. Their conversation, which started with flirting and pick-up lines, quickly developed into a discussion of more serious topics. Tyler confided that he lived 864 miles away, in Alabama, but assured Cyrena that he had every intention of committing to her. As daunting as it seemed, their love and instant connection were undeniable. From prairies and sunflowers to the land of dixie, their long-distance relationship was born. After weeks of calls, texts, and facetimes, this mode of communication would no longer suffice. They both felt true feelings, and a solely online relationship was no longer feasible. It was time to meet! Tyler, who tossed and turned all night out of excitement and anticipation to finally meet his future wife, missed his flight. Not wanting to let a bit of airport “mismanagement” get in the way of meeting his soulmate, Tyler ensured he was on the next flight. With a missed flight and some time standing against him, Tyler knew he had to make a serious first impression. From the first hug to the first “I love you”, and even the first (and last) “Will you be my girlfriend?”, it's safe to say that Tyler left an admirable and charming impression. From here on out, Tyler and Cyrena became one. They were no longer two individuals, what they did and how they lived were for each other. 864 miles may as well have been inches, as the physical distance played no part in the emotional distance. Filled with excitement and enthusiasm for their new-found love, they embarked on the next stage of their long-distance relationship: meeting the family. Explaining the normalcy and prevalence of dating apps to those dating when gas was $0.75/gal can be compared to explaining calculus to a child. With that in mind, Tyler and Cyrena opted to omit their actual story for something parents may view as “more palatable”. While Cyrena opted for a more traditional bar story, Tyler chose more of a “unique” story, claiming he met Cyrena at a gas station while traveling. With time, it was learned, understood, and accepted that they met online and that regardless, they were IN LOVE! By January 2021, Cyrena and Tyler chose to step out of the long-distance phase of their relationship. Tyler packed his truck with all of his belongings and made the trek to his new home in KC. They spent the next year and a half experiencing new things, building new trust, and establishing a strong foundation for their love to prosper. They never wasted a moment together, taking every opportunity to go on journeys, travel, and see the world. It was that curiosity and yearning for adventure that brought them to the Bahamas. It was in this sandy, ocean oasis, on August 2, 2022, that Tyler worked up the courage and tenacity to ask Cyrena’s father for his blessing to marry his daughter. The couple spent the next few months visualizing their future, planning their lives, and counting down the days until they took the next step in life together. On December 26, 2022, the two shared a meal together and went for a drive. Under the guise of viewing the neighborhood Christmas decorations, Cyrena found herself under the dark, starry night sky, surrounded by glowing, yellow bulbs, and towering blue spruce trees. Taking the moment in, she turned to look at Tyler as he descended to one knee, grasped her hand, and asked for her to be his wife. The moment that they had prayed their whole life for was finally here. The engaged couple are excited to officially say “I Do” in front of their friends, family, and God on June 15, 2024.