Anthony's version: As coworkers, it just so happens that we were apart of the same circle of lunch/happy hour friends. Often, as a group, we would all go out after work to blow off some steam or just to let the San Diego rush hour traffic die down before driving home. It was good times! Christmas was approaching, so we all thought "huh, we should all call out from work, go to the beach, catch a movie and do a white elephant!". So in anticipation of said day, I requested the day off, bought my exchange gift and waited.. However, on the day before the event, the entire group bailed on the idea and decided to go into work. I, being the non conformist :) decided it was still a good day to enjoy beautiful San Diego, so Grace and I decided to go through with it. Like Sheldon and Penny (buds in Big Bang Theory) we hung out the entire day and did a solo a White Elephant. Over the months, we still hung out with the same group of friends until one day, it just felt different. My usually hard as a rock exterior faded and I saw Grace differently as if I just opened my eyes and saw the most beautiful sunrise. One day, it was no longer Grace the woman I knew from work who also laughed at all my jokes (which WERE funny BTW), it was Grace, the most radiantly beautiful, different, sweet, humble, kind and giving woman that I've ever met, BUT before committing, I thought it prudent to ask to see her bank statements and credit scores... You know, just to make sure she was the real deal :) Shortly thereafter, on Grace's 37th birthday in 2018, we purchased a new home to house the new memories of our new blended family. Feb 10th, 2021, on Grace's 40th birthday, I proposed and thankfully she said yes! Grace's Version: Anthony and I were a part of a Lunch/Happy Hour crew at the same company we both work at. Anthony was always the one making EVERYONE laugh! In passing at work, we'd stop and chit chat, and he would always tell me jokes to get through my work day. In December 2016, all of us thought it would be fun to just request a day off of work, and have lunch and have a Christmas White Elephant Gift Exchange! Well, for some reason, all the other people flaked! Which left only Anthony and I! So we thought, "Let's not waste a perfectly good day off!" We ended up watching "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story", had a great lunch, and spent the day talking.....and talking.....and talking....(You all know how Anthony is a TALKER!!) :) After that fateful day, we started hanging out more, and realized we have soo much in common. We shared the same view points from everything from previous life struggles, to life, children, family, saving money, and sharing the same weird sense of humor! I mean, come on, you know he kept me around because I laughed at all his jokes! Even the corny ones! I fell in love more and more with Anthony, because even though at first, he may seem serious and always professional, but once you get to really know him, he has the BIGGEST heart, the most thoughtful, caring, understanding, supportive, loving, and funniest man I have ever met. I found in him, everything I wanted in a man. (And he cooks too!!) :) He also truly OPENED MY EYES to what a true, loving, relationship is supposed to be like and feel like. With him, our relationship is truly equal and even. Him and I always do for the other, no questions asked and without hesitation. We BOTH strive to take care of our home we have together, and want what is best for all 4 of our kids. I have so much love and respect for him, and I thank God every day, for placing him in my life. He truly is, everything I never knew, I always wanted.

Grace version: Since it was during the time of COVID, I really didn't think we were going to do anything for my birthday that year. I even planned on coming in to work! But when we woke up that morning, Anthony said to me, "Babes, take a day off for your birthday. I have a surprise for you". So I did. That morning he also said to me, let's go for a drive. Here I was thinking, "Oh we are going to take a nice stroll along the beach, maybe have a nice lunch outdoors somewhere, something very low-key and relaxing. We were driving and driving, and kept on driving north for more than an hour and a half now, and I said to him, "Seriously, where are we going?!" Anthony replied, "You'll see it's a surprise". We ended up in Orange County and exited off the freeway, and he drove right to a car dealership where they sold all Teslas. I was soo confused! I said, "What are we doing here, Babes?" Anthony said, “Surprise! Happy Birthday!” I was still in shock, thinking Anthony was joking around AGAIN, like he always does! But he said to me “No, one of these is your birthday gift, that Tesla Model S over there.” He said it with the biggest smile on his face, and I immediately screamed and cried, “No way, we can’t afford a car like this!” I kept repeating to him, “Thank you, Hon, I don’t deserve you, or this gift.” I started crying. I was in disbelief. But Anthony, made all the arrangements, and that was his birthday gift for me. The most beautiful gift I have ever received. We drove back home, and the birthday surprises didn’t stop. When we walked into our house, the kids had decorated the whole inside of the house with streamers and balloons! Again, I cried tears of joy from all the love our kids showed me. We went into our backyard to open my gifts the kids and Anthony gave me. Music was playing, and our special song came on. Anthony said to me, “Babes, do you remember this song? And the words to this song?” I answered that I did, and I turned to look to the speaker that was playing the song. After a minute or two or re-listening to the lyrics again, I turned my head back around to face Anthony and the kids, and the kids were along the side, and I say Anthony down on one knee, proposing with the most beautiful ring I have ever seen! Tears started flowing and I kept repeating, “Are you serious, right now?!?!” I said, “Yes!! Yes!! Of course I will!” as he slid the ring on my finger. He made me feel like the happiest, and most Blessed woman in the world, on that day, and ever since the day we met. 2 gifts in 1 day, on this birthday.....a day I will NEVER forget for the rest of my life.