It all started with a Christmas card: downtown Sykesville, MD engagement session

“My friend, Brianna (MOH) and I decided to “adopt soldiers” for the 2013 holiday season. We have always had a respect for our servicemen and we loved the idea of being supportive in this way. We went through the organization Soldiers Angels and we were each assigned a soldier who was deployed in Afghanistan. The soldier I was assigned ended up coming home earlier than expected, so I was in need of a new one :) Brianna’s soldier, John, had a group of soldiers he “oversaw”. Brianna asked John if he had any soldiers who needed some extra love this season. The idea of this experience was never to look for a relationship, etc. Brianna and I just wanted to express our thankfulness for these soldier’s service. John suggested to Brianna one of his solders….Garrett :) Brianna contacted Garrett via Facebook and asked if this was something he would be interested in. Garrett agreed and so him and I connected over Facebook. We messaged on Facebook frequently throughout the remainder of his deployment. I sent Christmas care packages and he insisted on sending me presents for Christmas as well. Garrett returned stateside in January 2014. Our communication definitely decreased at this point, as he was trying to adjust back to life in Fort Riley, Kansas and I was finishing up my last semester of nursing school. As time went on, we communicated less and less. Id say about a couple months went by (~April-June) when we didn’t talk at all. I honestly wasn’t sure how this relationship would continue now that he was back home; I wasn’t sure if my role was necessary any more.

During this time, I was focused on graduation and studying for boards and he was recovering from a knee surgery he had in May. I remember in April or May, John had contacted Brianna that he would be visiting his hometown in Virginia and that he would love to drive up to Baltimore to meet her and take her to dinner as a thank-you for the support she has given. Brianna asked if I would join her. We met him and his daughter at the Cheesecake Factory in the inner harbor. I remember John asking me about Garret and if we still kept in touch, and if I would be interested in meeting him. John even attempted to call Garrett while we were at dinner!! I remember getting so nervous and embarrassed and I was secretly happy when Garrett didn’t answer. I had never talked Garrett on the phone and I did not want this to be the first time!

After all of my school stresses were over, it was early July, and it had occurred to me that I had forgotten about Garrett’s birthday (June 21). I sent him a birthday care package and at this point we reconnected. From then on out we kept in frequent communication through texting.  A couple months went by and probably around September, I suggested that we Facetime. At this point we had never even talked on the phone. All of our communication means consisted of texting or Facebook messaging. I was really nervous to talk to him on the phone, as the over the last couple months I developed a bit of a crush :) I remember being so scared that he wouldn’t like how i sounded or how i talked lol! We face timed one night after I got home from work, and it went great! I don’t remember it being awkward at all! From then on we facetimed every chance we got. At this point, I just wanted to meet this guy. I knew it would be difficult, however, as he was in Kansas, I was in Maryland,  I had just started a job as a nurse and he had his crazy schedule. However, the stars aligned and both of us had an extended weekend off at the beginning of November 2014. I flew out to KS November 7th 2014. Garrett picked me up from the airport. Apparently, he had these romantic plans to pull his car over to the curb, get out, and give me a big hug. Unfortunately, I ruined this for him because I just got too excited and ran right over to the car and jumped in.

The drive back to Fort Riley was about 2 hours. There were never any awkward moments and he spent a good amount of our drive back telling me about his childhood and growing up. Garrett officially asked me to be his girlfriend on the 8th. The first 8 months of our relationship was long distance. On average, we saw each other once a month, however in late spring there was a period of about 2 months where we weren’t able to see each other, (which is making me tear up thinking back to that time). It was really hard, but I knew that there was a light at the end of the tunnel because his time in the service was coming to an end. Garrett originally had plans to move back to his home state of Washington and go to school when he got out of the army. However, his plans evolved as our relationship progressed. He ultimately decided to move to Maryland and attend school here and pursue a career in PTA. I flew out to Kansas at the end of July to help Garrett move. His last day at Fort Riley was August 1st 2015. Garrett and I embarked on our first road trip from Kansas to Maryland! I was so happy to have him all to myself :) Garrett is now attending Carroll Community College to pursue his career as a Physical Therapist Assistant.

Brianna had kept in contact with her soldier John, who I was able to meet in Kansas a couple times. He retired from the Army this fall and invited Brianna, Garrett, and I to his retirement ceremony in Fort Lee VA. Brianna expressed a desire to attend the ceremony and I was all for it! The three of us drove down there on November 19th 2015. After the ceremony, the three of us went down to the front of the auditorium to meet john and his family. Brianna brought her dad’s nice Nikon camera so we were all taking pictures together. Garrett expressed an interested in getting a picture with just him and I, which I found to be a little strange because he NEVER is one to initiate pictures. He wanted us to get a picture together in front of the American and Army flag that were displayed in the middle of the stage. Brianna started taking some pictures of us, quite a few actually, and I was wondering what was taking so long lol! The next thing I knew, I felt Garrett reach his hand in to his pocket.

I looked down at what he was doing and I was completely shocked to see what he was pulling out of his pocket. The next thing I knew, he was kneeling down and he had a big sparkly diamond handed out to me. My first words were “Shut up” and “Nuh uh”. It took me completely by surprise! Brianna captured pictures of it and John had recorded a video on his phone!! Apparently Garrett had a plan between the three of them so that this moment could be recorded! Good job babe!! haha. Brianna had tried to get me to get my nails done prior to this special day, but I kept declining because I didn’t want to spend money! However, after the proposal, we made an emergency trip to the nail salon so that I could send out pictures of my beautiful ring :)

Through Garrett’s and mine romance, we (but more so me) have set up two of our friends! I initiated the relationship of Garrett’s army buddy and my friend. They began talking in January 2015, became ‘official” in February, and are now planing their wedding for September 2016!! We also introduced another of Garrett’s army buddies and they are also now in a relationship as of November! It’s amazing what has become of all this; where it began and where it has come. We thank God for His timing, plan, and divine intervention!!!” – Kara  (with a few changes made to protect privacy)

Garrett and Kara are getting married in May at the Union Mills Homestead in Westminster, Maryland, the same place my husband and I were married in 2011! There are so many reasons these two are special to me! I’m thrilled, honored, and so excited to document their wedding day! <3