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Arielle: We met on Saturday December 5th, 2020. One of our friends organized a homeless initiative where we made goodie bags and passed them out in downtown Raleigh. Both of us decided to go that afternoon and didn’t know each other yet. We ended up at the table making cards and the conversation came up about being teachers. Soon we realized we had a connection in teaching as well as growing up in the same church and knowing some of the same people. I didn't think too much of it as I figured that was the only conversation we'd have that night. We got to downtown Raleigh and I volunteered to go beyond the Moore Square area to talk to people. Since they didn't want a girl going alone, Sean volunteered to go with me. So we walked around together downtown talking between our conversations with the homeless and hit it off. It wasn't till later though that we really connected. Sean: I was invited to help the homeless and met the group at a friend's house. I saw Arielle and thought she was cute and found out we both had a teaching background and hit it off quickly. When we split up into pairs downtown I decided to go with Arielle so I could get to know her more and provide support as well. Arielle saw a lady in distress and told me to give her some space. I didn't let her get out of eyesight. The next thing I see is Arielle giving her winter coat to this woman. It brought tears to my eyes and I knew this girl was different. I gave my jacket to Arielle because I could tell she was cold. I wanted to continue talking to her and she was fun to be around so I asked if she wanted to go to Chili's later that night and a friendship started. Even though it wasn't planned it turned into a first date. We exchanged numbers and began talking a lot the next several months. We officially started dating at the end of February. Thankful for the chance to meet in December! Meeting the love of our lives that afternoon was not on the radar but grateful the Lord knew what would occur.

I knew in July that my feelings were strong for her and I wanted to take it to the next step and ask her to marry me. I convinced her to go ring shopping with me to get an idea of what she wanted and what she liked. I came back a week later and bought the ring I felt she would enjoy the most and I could tell in her eyes the one that looked the best. The hardest part was having the ring in August and holding on to it over a month. We planned to go to the Hanging Rock State Park together in September and I knew that was my chance to pull of the surprise and the proposal. When we got to the park I wasn't sure where the waterfalls were and took some time finding the perfect spot. I brought a box with me to solve the puzzle on and confused Arielle a lot as she was wondering why I was carrying the box everywhere. I wanted to do the proposal underneath a waterfall but when I found a little cave next to one I knew it was time and the perfect place. We both loved puzzles and had solved a 2000 piece puzzle together so I decided to take pictures of us from our dating time together and make that in to a puzzle and then put the words will you marry me in the middle. I took each picture and had her solve each separately. We finally got to the middle part and once she saw the Will You part she froze. I then needed to help her solve it in order for the puzzle to be complete and she could read the entire message. I went down on one knee and expressed my love for her and to marry me. She said yes!!! By then a lot of strangers had taken notice and started watching. They cheered loudly and it was an incredible moment. I am so happy to have her in my life and can't wait to marry her.