We were introduced to each other one college night through mutual friends and stayed close friends for a long time. One day we finally decided to make it official! We spent most of our dating days in Hattiesburg, MS going to Southern Miss football, basketball, and baseball games (SMTTT!). With both of us being young adults in the working world, we spent most of our off days with our dog, Riley!

After two years of dating, on a winter night, Benjamin decided it was the night he was going to propose. Like many weekends, we went to Amanda's parents' house in Louisiana. Usually on these weekends we meet up with the whole family for dinner. That was the plan January 12th. With the help of Amanda's sister Lesley and her brother in law Jake, Benjamin planned how it was going to happen. All day before dinner, it poured down rain. Of course, this made Benjamin nervous so he prayed that the rain would clear. God definitely heard his prayer that day! Benjamin wanted it to be at sunset on the Mandeville lakefront so we went to get drinks while waiting on Lesley and Jake to get there, because of course they were "running late." As we walked across the street to the water, there was a gazebo to the right. Amanda had no idea but Lesley and Jake were hiding behind trees to come out and film it and take pictures. We entered the gazebo at sunset and looked out over the water, Benjamin reached into his pocket and got down on one knee. Even though he planned on saying more but couldn't get the words out, all he could say was "Amanda, I love you, will you marry me?" And she said yes, and cried of course!