It was late January 2019 when we both put profiles up to try our luck with online dating. Within hours we matched, but less than a day later overwhelmed by the whole thing, Alika took herself off the app. Thanks to the miracle of the iPhone screenshot and my exceptional "research" skills, I found her on Instagram and got to work! Over the following couple months we got to know each other enough for me to make a case to meet up for dinner. Thereafter, we continued to see each other every other weekend between my work travels. Thanks to input of her incredibly wise friends, Alika decided to take the relationship to the next level. In February of 2020 she moved in knowing I was only home 2-3 days a week, but then March 2020 happened! Weekends together became the blessed joy of every waking minute together. For two incredibly independent people, this presented a tremendous "opportunity." Sure there were some growing pains on my end, but that growth has been so worth it. Ultimately it became clear that how much more fulfilling a life with Alika was and that it was time to lock things down!

Valentines Day 2021. Amir gifted me a trip of a lifetime to Paris, France to take place later that year in October. What a dream. He had restaurants reserved, hotel booked and even a photo shoot planned. The photographer specialized in Parisian wedding/engagement photos! So naturally, I thought it was going to happen during the shoot. He even had a couple best friends convinced as well. It just so happened that we were leaving for Paris 4 days after Amir"s 50th birthday party. Boy was he going FULL OUT for it. I could not wait to leave for Paris because he really was not letting me help with the planning of this party. Looking back, I should have realized that something was up. All along he was planning to take a knee in front of friends and family to propose. On his birthday. We got to celebrate in Paris and take the most beautiful engagement photos.