we're getting married!

We had one class together our freshman year of high school, but then our paths never really crossed again until the start of our senior year at a friend's party. It wasn't too long before we began talking. I shared with him my plans to go to Texas Tech the following year, & he shared that he comes from a military family & that he was planning on joining the Marine Corps after graduation. We spent the rest of the evening chatting & learning about each other, which carried into the days after & led to our first date. Dalton came to pick me up, & after meeting my parents we went out to our "fancy" dinner at the Olive Garden (where I unknowingly gave him a mild heart attack when I ordered my $17 shrimp alfredo). The date went well & afterwards we went for a drive where he took me out to the lake & we continued to talk and connect as we overlooked the water. We were starting to feel like we were at the start of something really special. After just a few weeks of dating and outings with our friends, we officially became boyfriend & girlfriend on October 3rd, 2016, & the rest is history! We remained inseparable throughout the course of our senior year & had so much fun together, but we both knew from the beginning that we had very different plans upon graduation, & that time was approaching us very quickly.

Dalton came along to drop me off at my freshman dorm at Texas Tech, & our long distance relationship began. We slowly adjusted to this big change, seeing each other once a month or so before he went off to boot camp in the Spring. For 3 months, our sole communication was through letters, a time that we will always remember & cherish. Before we knew it we were sprung into the military lifestyle filled with several goodbyes & (thankfully) countless FaceTime calls. During the first year of his time in the military we went through increasing increments without seeing each other, but we held onto each & every reunion that was ahead of us. It was incredibly difficult, but equally as rewarding. There then came a time where Dalton received orders to be stationed in Japan for 3 years. It was scary, but we focused on the fact that he would be granted 30 days of leave each year. We were so blessed to have spent an entire summer together in San Antonio for one of his training courses at the beginning of this contract before the time came for him to be sent across the world. Little did we know that it would be a full 2.5 years before we would see each other again… We were simply living two separate lives, me making my way through nursing school & him working each day as a K9 Handler. We stayed in contact daily & each worked really hard to keep our relationship a priority. It was most certainly a challenge, but we knew we would come together again "one day soon," we just didn't know when. There then came a time of lockdowns & travel restrictions, making it impossible for Dalton to take leave. We patiently waited for these restrictions to be lifted, which they unfortunately never were until his entire 4-year enlistment in the Marine Corps was completed. From August of 2019, we were not reunited until February 12th of 2022 - for good this time!

Dalton & I's final reunion was by far the most surreal moment of our lives. To me, I was so surprised by how completely normal it felt to be in his presence again after such a long time apart. He of course had to adjust to life back in the states as well as to the civilian world, & I had to support him through that, but I am so thankful that our relationship itself felt like such a solid foundation. We spent a little over five months reconnecting, dating, and just simply being together. Then, on July 22nd, 2022, I got ready for "special dinner reservations" he had made. He came to pick me up &, to my surprise, took me out to the lake (the same exact location of where he took me after our first date). We walked out to the water together & I turned around to find him on one knee! He shared the sweetest words with me before asking me to marry him, & I of course said YES! It was such an anticipated & beautiful moment that we will forever hold in our hearts. We are so thankful for each & every one of you that have encourged & supported us during our long journey together. We cannot wait to celebrate with you all at our wedding! See you soon!