We met through our high school marching band when I was 13 and he was 15. That year’s show was “Young Love,” which turned out to be fitting. We were both on the drum line, and what started as friendship grew into something steady and lasting. We married in 2019 at 18 and 20, and we’ve been navigating life side by side ever since. We've seen each other through so many seasons of life, and we’ve loved every version of who the other has been—and who we’re still becoming.

One of our favorite memories comes from a time that wasn’t easy. We were navigating family conflict and emotional strain, but through it all, we leaned on each other completely. It’s a memory we hold close because it reminds us that love isn’t just built in joyful moments—it’s deepened in the hard ones, when we choose to stay, to care, and to grow side by side.

We would use $20,000 to continue growing together in every way. We'd travel and explore new, beautiful places, creating memories that deepen our bond. We'd put a down payment on our first home—a place to truly call our own—and begin building the next chapter of our life with love, intention, and stability. This gift wouldn’t just fund experiences or milestones; it would help us keep choosing each other, every day, just as we have since the beginning.