Him: 45, ex-chef, dad, dreamer, stubborn, hard-working, loyal, shy, a flawed farmer with a pug dog, Nietzsche. Ryan had given up on love.

Her: 40, lover, friend, family-oriented, thoughtful, generous, independent, sensitive, a radiant beauty with a French bulldog, Dixie. Sarah had decided she was content to be single. She didn’t need love.

Her friends created her dating profile. He saw her within minutes of switching her location to Asheville. She was beautiful, the right age, sober, and just the right amount of FLA. There was no question, he had to meet her.

The texts flowed fast and furious, with much in common. For two long months, he waited to meet, afraid to get his hopes up.

He was the stableboy, and she was the princess. Maybe she’d see his life, his plant business in the front yard, his family small, and it wouldn’t be enough. He wouldn’t be enough.

First, it was coffee at The Yellow Mug. 7 am on a Sunday, the kind of date that happens when you’re sober. She rolled up in impeccable style, all blond hair and black leather jacket. She was perfect.

A yoga class. Lunch, then some help with some fashion. Finally, a week later at dinner, he looked at her and stuttered the words, “This is it. You are it for me Sarah.”

He was it for her too.

Sometimes life hands you something so precious that it changes everything.

As you wish.

Thanks hinge! I mean, how else do two ex-party animal, home bodies, who live in different states meet? All it took was changing my location from Sarasota to Asheville and the rest was history! In preparation for my 2-month getaway in the mountains, I impulsively switched my location early one morning, hoping by the time I got up there, I would have a date or two ;) It was all of 5 minutes, and I got a new message in my inbox. And I was like- cute…check, tall…check, sober…check, former chef…check, owns a plant farm…check, smoosh-face dog…check. AM I IN A HALLMARK MOVIE?? A hot, sober, chef, farmer with a pug?? Jackpot! Ryan and I immediately had so much in common, we knew we had to meet! Lucky for me, he was patient enough to wait the 5 weeks until my Asheville arrival.

The first weekend I got to town, we met for coffee- early Sunday morning on the fourth of July. He pulled up in the most perfect white farm truck and hopped out with a big smile, a charming hello, and gave me the best hug I have ever had in my whole life. Plus, it didn’t hurt that he looked better than his pictures! Our first meeting was short and sweet and then he was off to work- it was his busiest weekend to date at the plant nursery! I left the coffee shop feeling so excited and just knowing I would see him again. And I did… again, and again. All summer, we never stopped, we never wavered, we knew. It was a summer romance that turned into the love of my life. Four months after we met, I sold my house in Florida and moved up to North Carolina.

It has been the greatest blessing, and a somewhat miraculous chain of events that has brought us together. Looking back, it felt like a long road to find him. But I wouldn’t change any of it, all of the missteps, all of the hard-times, it’s what led us to each other. It’s what made us perfect for each other, and it’s what makes us stronger together. I feel so lucky that I get to spend the rest of my life with him.