welcome to our forever

Kiersten and BJ didn’t officially meet until high school, but always lived in parallel. Both attended Baltimore county public schools through grade school, played in the same sports leagues at Franklin, even played basketball with their dads at the JCC on the weekends. But it wasn’t until 9th grade, they were put in the same history class at McDonogh. And the rest was history…. Just kidding. Kiersten didn’t like BJ very much. They became closer as the years went on, but not until Senior year of high school they were their closest bonding through basketball, joking around, and Cosi.

Fast forward 5 years after high school, Kiersten and BJ rekindled their friendship when BJ visited Atlanta during her graduation weekend. Realizing it was so natural and fun being around each other again, they played with the idea of dating. Kiersten had just commissioned into the Navy, set on moving to San Diego in just 2 weeks time, with a 7 month deployment on the horizon. BJ had just finished a year playing professionally in Ireland and was waiting for his next year abroad. Let’s just say “right people, wrong time.” They enjoyed a weekend together in ATL and set on keeping in touch, but not much more. Through that summer, BJ visited Kier in San Diego a couple times, but still with no relationship in mind.

By September, after months of talking, seeing each other, and FaceTiming all the time, BJ knew he couldn’t live without Kiersten!!! Although it is true…. It’s not how it happened. On September 7th, Kiersten flew across the world to Djibouti, Africa to meet her ship off the coast to begin her first deployment. With limited service, email ability, and a whole lot of uncertainty with communications, BJ was met with a huge decision of continuing the start of our relationship. Give this a chance and have Kiersten make the time to talk or give up on what could be a great relationship. He chose wisely. The first 6 months of deployment and our relationship were difficult to say the least. Kiersten woke up in the middle of the night to call BJ for the best time zone difference, they fought via e-mail and Facebook messenger (do not recommend), and FaceTimed whenever her ship hit land. And on top of all of that, BJ joined a team in Cyprus and was moving across the Atlantic.

4 years, 3 deployments, 2 job changes, a cross country move, a puppy, and a whoooole lot of fun. Kier and BJ moved in together in Charleston, SC in 2020. Met some lifelong friends, enjoyed finally living together, and Kiersten got her soul-dog, Beano. BJ is still grasping the role of dog-dad. As BJ found his place in the basketball world and Kier was headed back to sea-duty, they moved out west together. Bought a condo by the beach and of course Kier deployed again. BJ tore his Achilles doing what he loves and was in single dad, on crutches mode. 2022 was tough, but ended with the best surprise of all.

If you know Kiersten, you know she knows what she wants. They had the house, the dog, the jobs, the story, and all that was missing was the 💍. Leading up to and through deployment, the idea was thrown out there and the pressure was on for BJ. Little did Kiersten actually know, BJ had bought the ring within weeks of her leaving for an 8 month deployment. He spent the majority of deployment confusing Kier (with what she calls lies) about his whereabouts in regards to jewelers, readiness to get engaged, and the finances to support. Even littler did Kiersten know, BJ had the whole thing planned once she returned from deployment. He had been in physical therapy for his injury for 3 months at this point and had made it very clear to them that the only thing he needed to be able to do was get down on one knee in August. Kiersten had a miserable day at work August 26th. BJ in the mean time had been preparing for the most important night of his life so far. BJ had a “dinner” set up with the “coaches and their wives.” He had it planned for weeks and Kier knew how important it was, but of course got home from work, upset and tired, and took a shower and a nap. BJ, if you know him, takes forever to get ready and Kier is the opposite. But this day, BJ was ready in record time patiently waiting for Kier, who was still in bed, to get ready. He told the surprise photographer 7pm to be at the spot for perfect sunset. Kier wasn’t ready til 7:05 and was completely unbothered. Bj even asked if she was “going to do her hair,” (story for another time) that’s how good of a surprise this was. Friday night in Pacific Beach, San Diego is a parking nightmare and this Friday proved no different. We didn’t park til 7:20. And we parked so far away, that we walked 15 minutes to a very specific bench at BJ’s request. Kiersten very confused by why we were walking so far and why he cared so much, just went with it. A little back story, the week prior, Kiersten and BJ had a big argument about why the engagement was taking so long or was it ever going to happen to which they agreed to just drop it. So to say Kiersten was not even close to expecting ANYTHING, was an understatement. A fake photo shoot was going on near by while they sat on a bench overlooking the beach in PB. This bench is where Kiersten and BJ took their first picture together in the summer of 2018. It was always a place they sat just to reflect, enjoy, and of course eat ice cream. Kiersten was still oblivious to everything. BJ talked about how much he loved Kiersten, which wasn’t a rarity, so she was kind of zoned out with the photo shoot nearby. BJ continued and it wasn’t until he said the words “a lot of people keeping asking about when I would propose to you….” And she perked up. BJ proposed with the most gorgeous rings. He had gotten his Grandmother Annie’s engagement ring and his Great-Grandmother Myra’s wedding band refurbished and made to fit Kiersten’s hand. This had been done 5 months prior and she had no freaking idea. Everything was caught on camera by the nearby photographer, who of course had been waiting since 6:40 (sorry Halley). BJ is still working through the trauma of the fight had the week prior, Kiersten thinks it’s a funny story. The night ended with a dinner alright. It was a surprise engagement dinner with all their closest friends, their San Diego family. Ian, Kiersten’s youngest brother, was even in on the surprise and had a seat saved right next to her. The night was absolutely perfect.