Our story is not a "love at first sight" fairy tail. It is in fact, in our opinion, a more beautiful story. One of seemingly unrelated and small decisions that piece together a mosaic of how we found each other. It represents how one choice, one decision, one moment, can change your entire life. It reminds us that life is not just one grand moment, but when we zoom out we can see the beautiful masterpiece each decision formed. Tracing where an invisible string tied us together through various moments in our lives.

We did not run in the same circle or even have a singular class together. The first time we met was at a mutual friends birthday party, one which we both debated even attending. While we did not say much to each other beyond introductions, we were finally aware of each others' existence. Sometimes you get a feeling after meeting a person for the first time. A feeling that settles deep in your soul; an indescribable feeling that you just met someone important- you just don't know in what way. However, after the party we went our separate ways, not getting any information to stay in touch.

Fast forward past COVID shut downs, our high school had just begun hybrid learning. When it was time for lunch many of our old friends had opted to stay asynchronous, so we both found our way to the same lunch table, pieced together with various mutual friends and acquaintances. We sat across from each other at the table, sharing glances and the occasional laugh at a group joke.

As time went on our group started getting closer and closer. We started making plans to grab food after school, or meet up for bowling or hang outs at someone's house.

We seemed to naturally gravitate toward each other. From being the first 2 people to arrive at a group hang out, to going to the gym together, we started to really get to know each other: our values, goals, humor, interests, etc.

By the end of the summer leading into our Junior year of high school we had grown very fond of each other and on the very first day of classes Dane asked the question that made it official.

Throughout high school we grew, both as a couple and as individuals. From Friday night football games to Monday mornings walking to class together, we spent as much time together as possible. The highlight of our high school experience, besides graduating of course, was winning Prom King and Queen, it has felt like the movies we watched as kids.

We graduated in 2023, celebrating our accomplishments of our childhood and excited for what we would accomplish in our adult lives.

After high school there were a lot of questions we had to answer. Navigating our new lives proved to be difficult as we were left to decide what careers we wanted to pursue, if we wanted to obtain higher education, and what the best choices would be to start the first steps down the path that leads us to the life we want to create for ourselves.

Dane decided to join the Army National Guard, which put us in a long-distance relationship, with no contact beyond letters and the occasional 20 minute phone call. While he was learning how to defend our country, VicToria started her freshman year of college as well as began working as a personal trainer! This part of our relationship proved to be very difficult. Not being able to share your victories and losses with your significant other can feel very isolating and lonely. It was also at such an important stage in our lives where we were growing as individuals. It took a lot of effort to make sure we were communicating as often as possible, celebrating each other, and supporting each other in any way we could.

After 5 months of being in different time zones, barely talking, and growing individually; Dane finally was able to move back home to Tucson.

Around the same time of Dane's arrival back, his parents were stationed to Maine, which meant he had to find a place to live and fast.

Because of this, in late February 2024 we moved into a 700 sqft apartment, along with his dog Roxy. We spent a year there, VicToria was a full time student and worked full time as a personal trainer. Dane found work as a maintenance technician for an apartment complex, started school at GCU online, and continued to go down 1 weekend every month for his National Guard duties. It was a small space for us, but it was ours.

After our lease was up in our first apartment, we decided to move into a larger apartment in a safer part of town. The new apartment gave us an opportunity to host more often, decorate more, and truly make it a home for ourselves. We went on nightly walks with Roxy, bought our first Christmas tree, had home cooked meals every night, and even rescued a stray kitten that had followed Dane around his entire work day.

While not every moment was straight out of a fairy tail, we truly grew as individuals and as a couple. Facing the challenges that come with adulthood together, finding out ways we could support and show up for each other every day. Moving in together is the fastest way to find out that we are both human: we make mistakes, let each other down, get angry, frustrated, and stressed.

We also went through tremendous grief in 2025 with the loss of Roxy. Another challenge that you cannot prepare for as a couple. Roxy was there from the very beginning of our relationship. She watched us go from friends to the love of each other's lives. She was more than a dog, she was truly family and she will forever hold a special place in our hearts/memories.

We could have let the difficult moments define our relationship. Instead we learned to forgive, communicate, support each other, show up for each other, be selfless, and most importantly- we leaned on God. Having an example of what ultimate love and sacrifice is gave us the blueprint for how to love one another. By growing in our faith as individuals, we grew together as a couple, allowing God to work in our lives to establish a strong foundation of patiences, forgiveness, love, humility, and peace.

Dane proposed on January 17th at the Botanical Gardens in Queen Creek, AZ! We spent the day at Pecan Farms (an entertainment/activity center that was attached to/next to the gardens). We went go-karting, axe throwing, played arcade games, had amazing food, and he even bought canoe tickets where we watched the sunset on the lake. We walked around the gardens and enjoyed the gorgeous weather that day, just happy to be in each other's company. When the sun had retired for the day and the night was lit up with the garden's beautiful lights Dane suggested we get photos together to remember the day.

It was then that the song that he played when he asked me to our first high school dance started to play. Under the magical glow of the lights Dane got down on his knee and asked one of the most important questions of our lives. Without a single thought VicToria answered "yes" in between sobs. The perfect way to end the most perfect day.

While we do not know what the future holds for us, we know that we have each other. The ups and downs are inevitable, but knowing that we will always be in each other's corners, cheering each other on, and building our life together makes the future exciting. We want a warm home, full of laughter and love. While we cannot control the future, or know what is ahead of us, or be able to count on much in life. We know two things for sure. We love each other and we will continue to chose each other every day for the rest of our lives.

Our story is a testament. It is a demonstration of how God intricately and intentionally places people into our lives. As we reflect on our journey, we have realized just how many choices could have led to us never meeting, never being friends, and never knowing what we would be missing out on. Every turn, misstep, redirection, it led us right to each other.

While this chapter is coming to a close, our story is far from over; and we cannot wait to discover what happens next.