One hot August day in 2018, Hazael’s mom said, “Hazael, you should see the new guy working at Peppino’s. He’s really cute!”

Hazael did eventually see the cute boy at her parents’ pizzeria. In the Spring of 2019, the cute coworker at Peppino’s had become Hazael’s soccer teammate, then acquaintance, and finally friend. As we all know, seeds eventually grow into buds. But, buds do not stay for long as they are destined to bloom. That summer, Hazael and Jordan became inseparable. They spent long days breaking ankles on the pitch, taking a swim in the Oconee River, and constructing a bench that would memorialize the blooming of their relationship.

This story is a beautiful example of why we fall in love. It's for that feeling of finding a confidant; someone that brings a smile to your face and whose presence turns even mundane situations (like building a bench) into unforgettable moments.

However, falling in love is only one part of the story. For the goal of a garden is to be sustained. A seed can be planted and a flower can bloom, but more often than not, its beauty fades as the flower wilts when untended. Over the past six years, Hazael and Jordan’s relationship has matured as they have individually. They’ve each learned more about who they are, grounded themselves in their values, and embraced the interwoven nature of their family cultures. They accept that as people they are constantly evolving and welcome the pursuit of rediscovering the other as the seasons change. Today Hazael and Jordan are still the soccer power couple who take on construction projects in the form of home improvement, but they continue to grow together in new ways every day.