We are getting married!

November: Jokingly let Bri set up a dating app for me at one of Emilee's photoshoots. Matches with Dylan. Dylan starts the conversation with a joke. December: Still talking to Dylan over text. Realizes we have some mutual friends. Sets a date to meet on New Year's Eve. *I fully intended to back out.* Bri encourages me to go and promises to meet me there. I pulled into the parking lot and get a text form Bri that she isn't coming due to a family emergency. I immediately pulled up the text with Dylan to tell him I wasn't feeling well and I was going home. At the same moment I get a text from Dylan that he was there and he thinks he sees me. I instantly panic and swallow my nerves but we make it through the first date where he was a perfect gentleman and I kicked his tail in bowling. ( I am still the reigning champ). January: Talking to Dylan became the part of the day that I looked forward to the most. He began to steal my heart with his words. The jokes, support, and encouragement that he showed me every day continued to amaze me. February: He met my family and I was slowly falling. March: We were planning more dates and talking on a daily basis. He asked me out after a college game at Atrium Health Ballpark. Uttered the first "I love you" ( Actually, I said it back in February, but I bolted when I said it and he never heard me.) I invited him to church. Doing life with him around just got better and better. Fast forward to two years into our relationship. After countless conversations about our hopes and dreams for the future, our dream wedding, him joining me at my church, creating countless friendships and so much more he finally asked me to marry him. I'll save that story for him, but I will say I am so thankful God palced us together and I can't wait to start our life together.

God has a funny way of changing plans just for the original plan to work. But after much prayer, I knew God would provide for the perfect day to happen. On May 5, 2024, I knew God had laid it on my heart that today was the day I would get down on one knee and ask the love of my life to marry me. After church, we went to Veterans Park in Kannapolis to take pictures, with family around and her sister capturing the moment, I went down to one knee (or tried to but you know things happen when you get nervous) and asked Alyssa to marry me. She did say yes! While putting the ring on her finger, I did drop it but in the end God blessed us with a great moment filled with laughs while being surrounded by family.