People often ask how we met, but our story didn't begin as a love story.

When we first met, Dennis was married to his late wife, Stacy. We hardly spoke to each other back then. We would occasionally see each other at Dennis' in-laws' weekend cookouts, and that was about it. The first real conversation we ever had was at a cookout at Dennis' best friend's house. Somehow, the conversation turned to beer, and Erica made it very clear that she thought the beer that Dennis liked was terrible. Looking back now, it's funny that one of our first memories together was arguing over beer.

Not long after, Dennis' life changed forever.

When Stacy passed away in a car accident, His world was turned completely upside down. The future he had imagined disappeared in an instant. For the next three months, Dennis shut himself off from the world. He wasn't looking for happiness - he wasn't looking for anything. He was simply trying to survive each day, while holding himself together for his son Austin.

Then came New Year's Ever.

Dennis was spending the evening at his in-laws' house when Erica Stopped by. She brought Dennis a Sweet Baby Jesus Porter, convinced it would change his mind about beer. He drank one, and honestly, he still wasn't much of a fan.

But that beer wasn't what mattered.

That night, surrounded by Stacy's family and Erica, something happened that he didn't think was possible. Erica made Dennis laugh. It was the first genuine laugh he had shared since losing Stacy. In that moment, Erica reminded Dennis that although his heart had been broken, there was still a life left for him to live.

That night didn't erase the grief. It simply gave Dennis hope that happiness was still possible.

After New Year's, Dennis decided it was time to start living again. He began inviting Stacy's cousins, Derrick and Angie, over for weekend cookouts. They asked if Erica could come too, and Dennis gladly said yes.

Those weekends became something they both looked forward to.

Dennis and Erica spent hours talking about life, family, dreams, and just about everything else. Erica never tried to replace what Dennis had lost. Instead, she patiently helped Dennis find his way back to himself. Little by little, Erica reminded Dennis that healing wasn't about forgetting - it was about learning to smile again.

Then came a camping trip that neither of them will ever forget.

One night Dennis and Erica stayed up talking around the campfire until there wasn't any fire left - just glowing coals and the stars above us. When morning came, they took a drive to the beach to watch the sunrise. Somewhere between that long night of conversation and the first light breaking over the horizon, They both realized something.

They were falling in love.

That sunrise marked the beginning of their journey together.

The years that followed were filled with adventures, laughter, challenges, road trips, campfires, and countless memories. We learned each other, grew together, and built a life side by side.

Two years later, we traveled to Colorado to visit Erica's family. Before heading home, we climbed Mount Bailey to watch another sunrise together. As we stood at the top, looking out over the mountains as the sun lit up the sky, Dennis thought back to that first sunrise we had watched together after a night around a campfire.

It felt like our story had come full circle.

So, on that mountaintop, Dennis asked Erica to Marry him.

She said YES!

Today, two years later, were standing here surrounded by the people we love, beginning the next chapter of our lives together.

Our story began with friendship, was shaped by loss, strengthened through healing, and built on love, laughter, and adventure.

We will always cherish the memories that brought us here, and we can't wait to see where the next sunrise takes us!

This is only the beginning...