Connect How did your love story begin?

Before we ever dated, we spent years unknowingly sharing the same spaces. Lex was my cousin’s best friend since fourth grade, so our paths crossed over and over without either of us realizing what was ahead. Then one conversation at my cousin’s bachelorette party changed everything. Looking back, it feels like our story was always being written, we just had to wait until the timing was finally right.

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

One of our favorite memories is the first time I met the kids. We took them to a waterpark, and by the end of the day I was getting my first real taste of the beautiful chaos that comes with a blended family. On the way home, Lex asked me to stop at H-E-B and grab a bottle of wine. After the day we’d had, I came back with five. We laughed so hard, and it’s still one of our favorite stories. It perfectly captures the joy, chaos, and laughter that have defined our life together.

What would you do with $20,000?

We would use the $20,000 to help bring our New Year’s Eve wedding to life. As a blended family, this day is about more than exchanging vows—it’s about celebrating the family we’ve built together and the future we’re creating. Being able to ring in a new year as newlyweds, surrounded by the people we love most, would mean everything to us. This gift would help turn that dream into a reality.