Austin and I are high school sweethearts! We noticed each other in junior high. Austin was always one year ahead of me in school, but we had a class together in seventh and eighth grade. Our first conversation went like this... "Austin, I like your shoes." "Thanks." Magical, right? We didn't speak again for two more years even though we ran track together in junior high, went to the same church, and had confirmation class together. I also was a cheerleader, and Austin was on the basketball team. My mom would always tease me about how Austin and I would make a cute couple. I swore that was crazy because there was no way he even knew who I was. After a basketball game one night, my mom dared me to ask Austin to take a picture with me. I did, and he agreed! I obviously needed his phone number to send him the picture we had taken! He asked me to the movies the following weekend, and we still have our very first picture together printed out on our fridge.

Austin proposed on November 1, 2024 at St. Andrew's State Park in Panama City, Florida. He told me that he wanted to take me to the beach for a day even if the water was too cold to swim. This wasn't unusual for him to say because we always spend at least one day at the beach when we visit. I packed a beach bag for us, put on my sunscreen, and set out a blanket when we got there. The moment I knew he was planning something was when I noticed him nervously standing in the same spot instead of enjoying the sun with me. He was relieved when I finally came over to stand next to him so he could tell me he didn't want to wait anymore to ask me to spend the rest of our lives together. After all these years of being together, he found a way to surprise me with the most perfect proposal. I am so glad that he chose to propose in Florida so my family would be there to celebrate with us.