Our story began in middle school band. I was 13, he was 12, and I knew the moment I saw him that I wanted to be with him. We spent the next 22 years as friends and even started our own lives before finally coming together. We’ve now been together for 13 years and married for 5. Our friendship became the foundation for a love built on trust, laughter, and always choosing each other.

My favorite memory wasn’t our proposal or even our wedding, it was the day he called me after 22 years of friendship to tell me he wanted to be with me. In that moment, everything changed. Since then we’ve built countless unforgettable memories, our engagement, our marriage, raising our son, and facing life’s joys and challenges together. Through all of life’s ups and downs, every day, we wake up and continue to choose one another.

We were married during the pandemic and never had the chance to celebrate with our family and friends. If we won, we’d use the prize to finally have a small wedding or reception where our son, loved ones, and closest friends could share in our union. If possible, we’d also take a simple honeymoon to celebrate this next chapter together. After waiting so long to be together, it would mean the world to finally celebrate our love with the people who have supported us along the way.