We first met as Penn State freshman at a lunch with mutual friends, just a shy guy and a loud girl. We didn't know it then but that would be the start of forever. After a group movie hangout, four date rejections (yes he asked me out four times before I finally said yes), and 5 years of dating....we couldn't ask for a better beginning to our story.

The day started like any other, wake up and go to church...except this day the family was very particular about how I was dressed. Of course I didn't think much of it as I was more worried about being late for church than whether my hair was dry. I was so hungry that day, skipped breakfast because of being late for church and then rushing from church to go meet my brother and his girlfriend for a day out at the gardens...and thus I was MOOODY. Never has my brother stepped in to try and appease me with my hangry attitudes, yet that day he said "Beth you sure you don't want me to stop somewhere to get some food? You don't want to be cranky the whole time". Which was met with "I'm not cranky just leave me alone"....not my proudest moment. But as soon as we pulled up to Longwood Gardens all the hunger melted away and was replaced with excitement to spend the day with everyone. Once we walked in I suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of...."wait, this is really nice....REALLY nice....could it be...no no way....but maybe??". We kept walking and came up to an amazing gazebo looking out on the water front. Adam asked that we take a picture together, which I gladly agreed to, why wouldn't I? And before I knew it Adam was on one knee...his words, "You know how you're always asking how much I love you? Well...this is how much". Immediately shocked entered my system I thought I was being punked...then when he said it was for real all the tears followed. Tears of pure joy, excitement for the future, and a deep love for the man in front of me. And every day since I am more and more glad I said yes.

When I first decided that it was the right time to ask Bethany to marry me, I felt so confident. I got the ring that I knew she would love, found the perfect place to ask the question; it was all coming together. I had one more hurdle to jump over. Get through the day without her figuring out what was about to happen. I chose to ask her at Longwood Gardens; a beautiful botanical garden perfect for the occasion. As you probably know, gardens aren't my cup of tea so going there by ourselves would have been a big red flag to Bethany. I teamed up with her brother and his girlfriend to help make the day less suspicious. When researching the area looking for the perfect spot to get on one knee, I found a gazebo right along the water nestled in the bushes off of the main path. I had no clue where exactly that gazebo was so I told myself that I would pop the question once we stumbled across the gazebo. Funny thing is, the gazebo was the second area we came across. Less than 30 minutes into the garden, the time had come. Did it have to come so soon into the day?! We entered the gazebo and I gave her brother a look that said "I'm asking her here." He began "taking pictures" but he was really video taping. After a few fake pictures, extreme nerves set in and my mouth became dry. I turned to Bethany and reached into my pocket as I asked her, "Do you know how much I love you?" I opened the box and she was shocked. She cried for a good 15 seconds as I awaited a "yes" or a "no". The longest 15 seconds of my entire life. With her hands covering her face as she cried in happiness, or what I hoped was happiness, she nodded her head and squeaked out a "Yes!". I was so relieved and happy at the same time and I would be lying if I said that a few tears didn't fall down my face. Bethany has been the happiest part of my life for the past 5 years, since we met at Penn State. I don't know what our life together is going to bring, I'm just glad that she is by my side.