I met Alex at a church conference that his church hosted that year in 2019. I had been on the fence about going since it was in Dallas, and I learned later that Alex almost didn’t attend as well - thankfully, we both had decided to go. One of the first things we did at conference was find our assigned activity groups that we had to meet with each day, and that is where I meet Alex for the first time. During the team building activity, Alex and I somehow always ended up being near each other and had to partner up for nearly the entire time. Afterwards at dinner, we again were sitting next to each other. Everyone at the table was getting to know the person right next to you, so I asked Alex a few questions. He answered them but kept the conversation very short & seemed reluctant to keep talking to me. I came to find out later (after we had started dating) that he was so nervous and didn’t know what to say to me, so he texted his friends that a cute girl sat next to him and asked them what should he talk about with me. The next day he came up to me and was a lot more talkative to my surprise. We kept talking each time our group had to meet and from those short interactions I learned that he is really down to earth, funny, and very easy to talk to. When conference ended, we texted almost my entire drive back to Houston which then lead to texting & talking all day long that hasn’t stopped since even 5 years later. I had no idea what to expect going in to conference, but Alex came my way when I least expected it, and I thank God everyday for not only giving me my best friend but also my soon to be husband! :)

I knew Sharon was the one early on, but I was waiting for the perfect moment to ask her the most important question, “Will you marry me?” I knew I had to take the first step of getting Sharon’s parents’ blessing. So while Sharon was away at her friend’s bridal shower, I snuck over to her house to meet with her parents & receive their blessing. The next step was the ring, while it took me months to perfect the style I knew she loved, I was confident she would be happy with the final product. It took everything in me not to ruin the surprise. I was so excited that I may have kept looking at it every day for 3 months. Months of planning the little details and decorations went by, and I picked the weekend of July 29th, 2023 which was actually our 4 year anniversary of meeting each other :) Sharon thought we were going to an “SMU alumni event” all dressed up, but deep down I knew she had an idea it was the proposal. When I first told her about the event months in advance, she had no idea at all but closer to the day she somehow figured it out. The morning of the big day finally came, and when I first saw her in her white dress, she looked so beautiful and I was so nervous that I didn’t even talk in the car. It was like the same nerves all over again from the first time I met her. When we got to the location I picked in Southlake, my mind and heart were racing. On the bridge, I had set up a lavender colored bouquet because I know she loves her flowers & lavender, pictures from over the years, a big A&S sign, and of course the ring. Both of our families set everything up that warm morning, doing what they could to keep it all a surprise. It was the easiest question to ask Sharon, and it will forever be the best decision I have ever made. When she thought it was all over, we came over to my parents home only to be treated by our friends and families cheering us on. This will always be one of the best days of my life, but I think 10/12/24 may just top this one :)