How did your love story begin?

I was just 17, working my first job at Taco Bell, when fate sent in a boy with a black Honda CRX and a smile that melted my heart. Every single day, he’d come in, eyes only for me, asking me out like I was his dream girl. I said no for a month, pretending not to fall—but my heart was already his. After 8 years of growing, loving, and dreaming together, he proposed. We married in 1997, built a beautiful life, raised two amazing kids, and he’s still the love story I thank God for every day.

What is your favorite memory you've shared as a couple?

One Christmas, my husband gave me more than gifts—he gave me a fairytale. One by one, I opened tiny nautical treasures: a seashell, a compass, cruise book, each wrapped with love and mystery. Then came the final envelope… a 7-day cruise for just us two. I burst into tears. It was heaven—golden sunsets, candlelit dinners, soft ocean breezes, our hands always intertwined. Each moment was wrapped in love and magic. In that week, he didn’t just surprise me—he swept me off my feet all over again.

What would you do with $20,000?

If I had $20,000, I’d finally breathe again. COVID hit hard—I lost my job and spent two long years searching in a small-town market with little hope. The financial stress was crushing. This money would help me catch up on debt, rebuild my credit, and create a safety net I’ve desperately needed. It wouldn’t just change my finances—it would restore my peace of mind, renew my confidence, and give me the fresh start I’ve fought so hard for.