A few days before Christmas, Max announced we were going to have lunch in downtown Austin. We went to one of my favorite restaurants, The Grove on West 6th Street (you should absolutely go if you are in town). During lunch, he suggested we go to the Zilker Botanical Gardens. It was a rainy and chilly day for Austin but I had always wanted to go to the Botanical Gardens so I jumped at the chance that he actually wanted to go and look at pretty flowers. Now I realize he was stalling time to wait for the rain to subside, but we took a little detour to a sweet Christmas market en route to the gardens. When we arrived at the gardens, we walked around for a few minutes before he turned to me in front of a gorgeous waterfall and got on one knee! Unsurprisingly, I said YES!! In true Max fashion, he had gone above and beyond and also planned an entire weekend of surprises including an engagement party, front row tickets to The Nutcracker and a meal at one of my favorite restaurants.

The ring is more to Bella and I than its beautifully woven gold band and dazzling diamond. I always desired to find a beautiful ring that would express how much I love and value Bella. When I was in the early stages of shopping for a ring to represent that love, my Dad reached out to me to ask how it was going. He offered something more valuable than I could've ever found in a store. He offered me the ring he gave my Mom when he proposed to her. The ring she wore throughout their marriage and her earthly life before she passed away from cancer on April 22, 2006. Bella always wanted a classic gold banded ring with a single diamond. When my Dad presented me with my Mom's, I knew it was perfect for her, not only for its beauty but also for the sentiment it holds. Bella and my Mom are the two most important women in my life and it is extremely special to see Bella always carry this heirloom with her, and us throughout our marriage.