We’re getting married!

It was their last semester of the MSW program at ASU. Teresa and Matt were in the same Zoom class and happened to get placed in the same group, which became their assigned group for the entire semester. It was in that group where Matt first noticed Teresa laugh at one of his jokes, leading him to feel there might be a chance with that pretty girl with the sweet voice and supreme intellect. Ever the romantic, Matt told Teresa that if she ever felt like getting together outside of class he “may or may not be interested.” Given this display of superior confidence, Teresa was instantly hooked. They first met in person at a graduation party. It was there that Teresa realized the genuine and kind hearted person Matt truly was. They spent the evening drinking, laughing and getting to know each other. When it was time to say goodbye, Matt attempted a goodbye kiss which resulted in a peck on the head as Teresa hesitantly turned away once she saw what was coming. They spent the following weeks texting from the moment they woke up to the time they fell asleep. Their first real date was highlighted by nonstop laughs and conversation as well as Matt nervously spilling beer all over the table and himself. The first few months of dating Matt and Teresa were inseparable with each day coming closer to the looming reality that Matt would be moving back to Indiana, as had been his plan since graduate school started. Teresa joined Matt on the cross country trip and hopes that she would like Indiana enough to move there were short-lived. Although much of the time was spent with Teresa in Arizona, Matt lived in Indiana for two months before deciding that he was not ready to give up the relationship and ultimately moved back to Arizona. The relationship moved quickly, as the two were thrust into living together after only dating for about four months. Continuing on this uncustomary path, they learned they’d be having a baby shortly after moving in together. Seeing Matt become a father to the little human that they created together unlocked a deeper love and appreciation for Matt that Teresa never thought would be possible. Now that Ellie has survived her first year of life, Teresa has turned 30 and Matt nearly 40, it seemed like the perfect time to get married. Matt proposed in the living room with Ellie in tow, sporting a “Will you marry my daddy?” onesie and the engagement was celebrated in Disneyland. If there is one thing that Teresa and Matt have learned from each other is that love is a lifetime of hard work and an eternity of unmatched fulfillment.