In reference to love, Taylor's mother said these words countless times in different stages of her life after a boy broke her heart or hurt her feelings. As a hopeless romantic, she was on a quest from an early age to find her one true love, like all her favorite princesses did in the Disney movies, but it seemed like she was kissing her fair share of frogs and they certainly weren't turning into princes.

As many of you know, Taylor began her path to sobriety and recovery some years ago. Early on in that journey she wisely took the advice to stay away from dating and men until she had reached a year of sobriety. In that time, she focused on healing and changing the course of her life to a more upward track. That year came and went and she still wasn't interested in dating.

Meanwhile, Jared was having his own bad luck on the dating scene. After graduating nursing school, Jared decided to re-home his cats with a good friend and join the Navy. In the Navy, he completed his studies of nuclear engineering but found that his passion still lied in nursing. Back in Charleston, failed relationships and drinking led him on his own journey to sobriety and recovery. He was still a frog but was on his way to becoming a prince.

Jared and Taylor first spoke to each other in a group chat filled with other young sober people. Jared promised to come help Taylor start a butterfly garden in her parent's back yard, utilizing his green thumb. Alas, the garden never came to fruition because Jared left Taylor in the southern summer heat for two hours. Alone. When he woke up from his "nap" he texted her, but she wasn't having any of it.

Fast forward a few months, Taylor was sitting in a meeting and saw a cute boy with blue eyes walk in wearing a band t-shirt and a beanie. She leaned over to her friend next to her and said, "He's cute. Who's that?" It was Jared. After that, they began texting somewhat regularly and he made her laugh so much, he earned his way back into her good graces.

Slowly, their relationship began to bloom. First, friendship since neither felt they wanted to rush into anything. Then, came their first date. It was at Hunting Beach (pictured above), a South Carolina state park, where they walked through the bleached trees along the shore line. Taylor ceaselessly rambled on while pointing out all the wildlife they come across and Jared listened intently, grateful he didn't have to do much talking. They stopped at a log and sat to enjoy the sunset. As the sun sank behind the waves, they had their first kiss.

The rest is history. It has and will continue to be, Jared and Taylor as a team against what ever trouble they may face. Through a surgery, devastating loss, new jobs, a move half-way across the country, and so much more, Jared and Taylor have supported each other, found laughter and continued to build their love through it all.

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