Our Story: Reflections and Hopes for the Year Ahead

We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day.” Edith Lovejoy Pierce wrote that, and it feels like the perfect way to start this post as the year comes to a close. It’s a quote that’s all about new beginnings, a blank slate waiting for us to make it our own, and I love that idea. With that in mind, I want to wish everyone an amazing year—full of joy, success, and all the moments that make life special. Whether it’s your job, your hobbies, or the time you spend with the people you care about, I hope this year turns out fantastic. For me,  I look toward this year, I’m excited to share why it’s so meaningful—meeting my soulmate—and what I’m hoping for next.

New Year’s is one of my favorite times. It’s that point where you can look back at what happened and get excited about what’s coming. There’s a buzz to it, a sense that anything could be around the corner if you’re ready to grab it. This past year, was one I’ll carry with me forever, and as I write this, I’m still amazed at how it all played out. It started with something I’d heard people talk about but never really believed until it happened to me—finding the person you’re meant to be with. They say destiny has a way of working things out, and for me, that’s exactly what went down this year. It flipped everything I thought I knew, and I’m heading with a whole new outlook.

It all kicked off when I met him. We ran into each other through a casual connection, nothing big or planned—just one of those moments that could’ve passed by unnoticed. At first, I figured he was the quiet, laid back type, someone who’d balance out my nonstop energy. I’m always on the move, chatting away, and I thought he’d be the calm one to my whirlwind. Boy, was I off the mark. As we started talking more, I saw he’s just as hyper as me, maybe even more. He’s got this cheeky, playful side and a sense of humor that sneaks up on you, and it completely surprised me—in a good way. I’d pegged him wrong, and that made getting to know him even more fun.

We’d crossed paths here and there before, just in passing, but in 1 year is when it clicked. We started hanging out, digging into who we really were, and it didn’t take long for me to see something special. He had this knack for making me laugh, and the more time we spent together, the more I realized how well we fit. It wasn’t a slow build—once it started, it took off. By the middle of the year, we were serious, and before I knew it, we were talking about forever. Within a year of really connecting, we got engaged. It might sound fast, but it didn’t feel that way—it felt like exactly what was supposed to happen.

I’d always heard that when you meet your life partner, things just fall into place, and that year showed me that’s true. With him, it was easy—not flawless, but natural in a way I hadn’t expected. It was fun, it was light, and it pulled everyone around us into this happy vibe. We’d mess around, make plans, and somehow it all worked without feeling forced. The engagement came together quick—picking a ring, deciding how to do it, letting our families in on it. I still remember the moment he asked, though it’s a bit of a blur because I was so caught up in it. We kept it simple, just the two of us, and that made it perfect. The ring was understated but just right, and the calls to family after were full of cheers and excitement.

The wildest twist? We grew up in the same town. We’d been living on opposite sides of the world—he was way out there, I was closer to home—but our roots were in the same place. That hit me like a ton of bricks when we figured it out. All those years, we might’ve walked the same streets, hung out at the same spots, and never met until now. It’s like life took us on these long loops just to bring us back together. I’m not usually one for big fate talk, but this felt like something bigger—maybe God’s hand—making sure we found each other when the time was right. To meet my soulmate, who’d been there all along, was a shock I’m still wrapping my head around.

Planning the engagement was a blast, even with the nerves. We didn’t drag it out—once we decided, we jumped in. We’d sit together, tossing ideas back and forth, picking a day that felt good. I’d always thought something like that would be a headache, but it wasn’t. It was like a fun little project we tackled together, laughing over the small stuff. The moment itself was low key but unforgettable—he asked, I said yes, and we spent the rest of the day grinning like fools. Our families were thrilled, and that sealed it—everyone’s joy made it real. We hadn’t nailed down a wedding date yet, but the engagement was enough to carry us into new year with a high.

Now, as I look forward, I’m pumped for what’s coming with him. 2008 was all about beginnings—next 2 years from meeting him, falling hard, getting engaged—and it’s set the tone for what’s next. We’ve got ideas brewing—maybe some trips, figuring out where we’ll land, starting this life together—and I can’t wait to see how it unfolds. Every day with him feels like a little win, whether it’s something big or just messing around at home. That’s what I want to be—keeping that good energy going, building on what we started. It’s a blank book, like Pierce said, and I’m ready to fill it up.

For everyone reading this, I hope new year brings you that same kind of happiness. Maybe it’s finding your own soulmate, or maybe it’s nailing something you’ve been chasing. Whatever it is, I wish you a year full of good times—those loud, fun moments and the quiet ones that mean just as much. Go out, enjoy yourself, chase what lights you up. Make your work great, make your downtime great, make every bit of it count. That’s my plan, and I hope it’s yours too. This year’s a fresh start, and we get to write it—let’s make it a good one.

Looking back, I’m still amazed at how it came together. Living so far apart could’ve kept us strangers, but it didn’t. Growing up in the same town, only to meet now, feels like a crazy twist. I used to shrug off talk about “the one,” but this year changed that. When it’s right, it’s smooth—not perfect, but easy in a way that clicks. We’d bicker sometimes, of course, but he’d crack a joke mid argument, and I’d be laughing before I could stay annoyed. That’s how I knew it was real—it wasn’t hard, it was us.

Discussing the wedding plans...I’d always pictured that kind of thing as stressful, but with him, it was a breeze. We’d sit over coffee, hashing it out, and it was more fun than work. The day he asked was simple but huge—everything I’d hoped for without even knowing it. Our families’ reactions were the icing on the cake—pure happiness all around. It’s still sinking in that we’re here,  heading into the next phase of our life.

This New Year’s, I’m riding that wave into what’s next was about finding him, building something real, and  feels like the follow up. We’ve got dreams—maybe traveling somewhere new, setting up a place to call ours, keeping the laughs coming—and I’m excited to see where it goes. It’s not about big, flashy plans; it’s about keeping it good, day by day. I hope your year has that too—moments that matter, whatever they look like for you.

Pierce’s quote keeps ringing in my head because it fits. This year’s a book, and January 1 is the first page. For me, it’s a chance to write more with him—more fun, more steps forward, more life. For you, it’s whatever you make it—success at work, time with people you love, or just days that feel good. I’ve learned this year that when things line up, like they did for me, it’s worth shouting about. So here’s to new year may it be fantastic, full of chances, and blessed with all the best stuff. God bless you all, and let’s make it a year to remember.