Savannah Chrisley Says ‘Awesome’ Relationship with Robert Shiver Is One of Her ‘Greatest Gifts’ (Exclusive)

Savannah Chrisley can’t contain her excitement about the new love in her life.

The Chrisley Knows Best star, 26, and her boyfriend Robert Shiver made their first public appearance together at the Melodies for Minds event in Nashville on Tuesday, and Chrisley tells PEOPLE that their relationship is “fantastic.”

“It’s been great. Everything’s awesome,” she said of her time with Shiver, who played football at Auburn University.

Savannah affirmed that her new love has been a blessing amid the turmoil her family has faced — parents Todd and Julie Chrisley have been in prison for the last 13 months, with Todd serving a 10-year sentence and Julie in the midst of her own six-year sentence for fraud and tax evasion.

“Hey, sometimes life throws you curveballs. Stuff sucks, but you have to make the best out of it,” she said. “And some of the most unexpected, greatest gifts come in the worst of times. So that’s kind of how I view it.”

Savannah also offered an update on her siblings, Grayson, 17, and Chloe, 11 (her brother Kyle Chrisley’s daughter who was legally adopted by Todd and Julie).

“They’re good. Kids are so resilient, and sitting, watching them grow throughout this time and being heavily involved in therapy and sports and all the other activities, I mean it’s pretty awesome to watch,” she said of the minors, who are under her care while her parents are away.

“Their resiliency is absolutely insane,” she praised.

Savannah previously told PEOPLE that her new relationship has had a positive impact on her outlook.

“I’m just so grateful to have such an amazing person in my life that shows up and loves and cares and is a positive influence on the kids,” she said in October, days after she departed Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test.
She said that she was “in such a happy place in life, despite all of the negative things that have happened,” adding, “I think this has just shown me that you can find beauty in the ashes. And so for that, wherever it leads, I’m forever grateful.”

Savannah and Shiver were first linked in the fall, and PEOPLE later confirmed that they were officially dating in mid-September.

They went Instagram-official in November when she shared several loved-up snaps, including one of them sharing a kiss that she captioned: “Sometimes… it just works ❤️”

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Prior to his relationship with Savannah, the former football player was news after surviving an alleged attempted murder by his then-wife Lindsay Shiver. In July, Lindsay, her boyfriend Terrance Bethel and alleged would-be hitman Farron Newbold Jr. were arrested in connection to the alleged plot, according to the Bahamas Court News.

Robert had reportedly filed for divorce after he found out about his wife’s alleged affair with Bethel, according to the Thomasville Times-Enterprise.