Mac and Crystal

How we met:

We met in the early 2000s before dating apps, so our story is a real twist of fate. We were both living in Chicago in our early 20s and I (Crystal) was searching for an apartment. Mac had a listing and I was scheduled to look at an available room in his apartment. However, I found a place right before and ended up cancelling. I joked with my friends that it was probably a good thing because he was really cute and we'd end up getting married.

A few months later I invited a few people over. I accidentally invited Mac because he was in my phone list from the apartment viewing. To my surprise he joined the gathering.

From the first time we met I knew he was the one. I would fall asleep thinking about our life together and 12 years later I can say that reality is even better that I had dreamt.

Mac proposed on the 39th floor of a building overlooking the Chicago skyline. We married a few years later at a winery/restaurant that my family spent many holidays when I was growing up. When I walked down the aisle with my father, I flashed back to when I was a little girl and my dad told me he'd be walking me down this very aisle one day. It felt like the perfect ending to that chapter of my life.

When we first started dating Mac asked me what I wanted out of life and I told him that it was simple, a nice home and a car. I come from humble beginnings and am the first in my family to graduate college. I think when you have that sort of background you really appreciate everything you're given and work extra hard because you know what it is like to go without. I feel so blessed that we live the life we do now and I have to pinch myself every day to remind myself that I am living my dream. Mac works for a law firm in the city and I work for my dream company Google. We have a wonderful home and jobs that allow us flexibility to start a family. I know that our family will never have to struggle and I just can't wait to spoil our future children with all of the things that felt so out of reach for me when I was growing up.

How CRYSTAL Thinks of Michael (Mac):

Mac has a calm demeanor and is always the first one to offer a helping hand. Oftentimes friends and family will call Mac for advice. I love how passionate he is about our family and that he's always planning for the future. No matter where our lives take us we have each other and I am the best, happiest version of myself because of that. My wish for him is that we are able to grow our family. I'm excited to watch Mac become a father and pass down life lessons and be a lifelong support system to our children. Even though he looks young in photos, don't let that fool you, he's almost 40. He has so much love to give and I know we will be awesome parents.

How MAC Thinks of CRYSTAL:

Crystal is an amazingly thoughtful, warm, energetic, and kind-hearted person. We met by chance one fateful night in Chicago many years ago and I've woken up every day since thinking how lucky I am to have her in my life. Crystal is truly one of a kind and I can't imagine my life without her. She brightens the lives of everyone around her. She still receives text messages and emails from the families she was a nanny for over 10 years ago. When she was a preschool teacher she brightened everyone's day so much that they would call her "Ms. Sparkle." I know in my heart of hearts she would be an incredible mom!