Their story began on June 5th 2022, at a Shenandoah concert, at Billy Bob's Honky Tonk in The Stockyards of Forth Worth, Texas. Ashlyn was living in Texas for traveling nursing and decided to call out of work one weekend, drive 3 hours north, to see Fort Worth. Her mother told her prior to moving to Texas to follow three simple rules - don't go anywhere by yourself, don't leave your drink with anyone, and don't fall in love. All three rules were broken in one night. At the same time, Blake was on a trip with his best friends, who call themselves the 'Stockyardigans' for a fun, rowdy, weekend out in town. During this concert, Ashlyn meets Sam Pecaut, the fiancé of one of Blake's best friends, Reason. They began talking and quickly became friends. On the dance floor, the band starts to play "Good Directions" by Billy Currington, and Ashlyn is excited to dance, hesitant to ask someone as she is new to Texas two-stepping. Unknown to Ashlyn, Reason is nudging Blake's shoulder telling him to ask her to dance. He does. They go onto the dance floor, and are both stepping on each other's feet in the most chaotic, dysfunctional two-stepping possible. The only words Blake spoke were, "I'm blasted right now." Romantic, thought Ashlyn. The song ends, and they parted ways off the dance floor, without saying a word. The night goes on, and Ashlyn sticks around to hangout with Sam and all the friends, as everyone is welcoming. At the next bar, Blake paid for her cover and bought her a drink. Ashlyn thought this was very nice. Though Blake was shy on night one, he did things to make her feel included in the group and went out of his way to involve her and make sure she was safe. Ashlyn started to notice Blake more because of these actions. Then he hits the dance floor... this man was not shy. He was dancing at Neon Moon, unbuttoning his shift, and waving dollar bills in the air. Not only was he welcoming, he was hilarious. At the end of the night, Ashlyn made the first move by asking for Blake's Instagram. From that moment on, they messaged daily, sharing numbers, and Blake drove to Austin from College Station the next weekend to see her. Their first official date was go-kart racing, and yes, Blake was faster. Blake drove to Austin ever single weekend after that. They became inseparable. Ashlyn eventually moved home to Pennsylvania at the end of the summer, and they maintained a long-distance relationship. 2 years were spent full of facetimes, long phone calls, Spirit Airlines, and missing one another terribly. Fast-forward to May 2024, they decided to start their lives together in Texas, where they had planned to spend a few years before the thought of children came to mind. Then they would move back to the northeast to have a family. God had other plans. The first summer living together in Nacogdoches, Texas, they found out they were expecting a little boy. What started as a shocking surprise had turned into the greatest blessing of their lives. They became parents together to a baby boy named, Briggs. Ashlyn and Blake had to navigate a move, new jobs, living together for the first time, and parenting, all at once. They did it together with the love and support from family, friends, and keeping God at the center of their relationship. It had been a challenging year full of stress, tears, joy, happiness, you name it. Ashlyn and Blake have grown tremendously as people, parents, and as a couple. At their baby shower in Texas, surrounded by both families, Blake proposed to Ashlyn when she was 9 months pregnant. Blake had wanted to show his commitment to her, forever. The proposal was thoughtful, beautiful, and a complete surprise to Ashlyn. He proposed with the most beautiful, unique ring; one created specifically for her, with his great-grandmother's diamonds incorporated into it. Shortly after Briggs turned 1, they decided to move closer to Ashlyn's family, which has now led them to a beautiful life in Delaware. Though they are living in 'Blue Hen' state, Blake is sure to instill those Aggie roots in his son. This is only the beginning of their story together. May God bless them with many years of security, safe travels, health, and a loving home for their family of three. Though their roots are from different worlds - Ashlyn from NJ/PA, and Blake from Texas, born and raised, they are blessed to be loved by so many, and have their families become one.