When I think of a fairytale love story, immediately my mind goes to the countless stories of my childhood (and adult life) as told by Disney. However, there is one Disney love story in particular that stands out to me, and I may be a little biased because it is my own. Once upon a time...

 

2016 had a pretty rocky start for me. My grandmother "Nana" had been suffering with Alzheimer's for several years. She and I were always inseparable, being that I was the *favorite* granddaughter and she was my everything. She raised me as an infant, she taught me to play the piano and we spent most of our time together. Once she got sick though, everything started to change. 

 

Nana passed away rather suddenly on Mother's Day 2016. Although it felt like she was taken too soon, I had now gained a guardian angel who was always looking out for me. And this was proven to me a few months later, on July 9th, 2016.

 

After being on a waitlist for what felt like forever, I was finally offered a role in Special Events and Conventions at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando. I was told that I needed to be there to accept the position within a week, so I quit my job, packed myself up and moved from Miami to Orlando to follow my dream of working for the Mouse. Turns out, Austin had just made a similar career move from South Carolina. 

 

July 9th was the first day of orientation -- "Traditions" as it is called. On my drive to Disney University, I was so nervous that I didn't know anyone and wanted to make a good impression. So I said a little prayer to my guardian angel. I said out loud: "Nana, please watch over me today. Help me to make new friends and to gain the most out of this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Please Nana, help me through this and stay by my side". Only a minute or two after I finished, I looked out of my window to see a double-rainbow shining through the clouds as if she was saying "I'm right here!" 

 

I was the first one in the room (too excited to contain myself). My table of 5 started to fill up one by one. And then Austin took the last seat in front of me. I'm not sure why or how I had this instant feeling, but for me it was pretty clear. Nana sent me my Prince Charming and it was love at first sight. 

 

Our first dates were trips to the parks. Austin being the Disney newbie and me being the passionate Disney enthusiast, I was his personal VIP tour guide through the resort and we had a blast. It was on our date to Epcot a few weeks later that Austin formally asked me to be his girlfriend during the Illuminations fireworks show. Two years later we got engaged at the Disney Vacation Club Hilton Head Resort in South Carolina in the company of our parents, siblings and our firstborn furbaby, Beau. This was a rare occasion due to the long distance between families so it made this moment even more special. We were both so nervous during the proposal, he walked too far, rambled on and on and neither of us could tell you what he even said. We both blacked out.  

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Marriage is definitely our greatest adventure. Austin and I were married on Nana's birthday, February 15th, 2019 without a dry eye around. 

                         

...and we lived happily ever after.