Brandon and I met just a few months before the dreadful COVID-19 pandemic hit. Our really good friend, Lauren, introduced us after much effort on her end. Brandon and I were fresh out of relationships and not looking for the next one quite yet. Lauren was pretty persistent that I give this guy a chance. Finally, after Brandon shows up on my "for you" page on Facebook, I noticed he was mutual friends with Lauren, so naturally I ask her about this guy. She became a bit annoyed I think because she then explained that this was the same man she had been trying to set me up with for a few months now. With that being said, Brandon and I ventured out on our first date and we have shared many more since then.

Our first year together was nothing short of a successful yet emotional rollercoaster. Brandon and I faced many trials in our first year together, but also shared some victories too. Finding that balance of growing and connecting as a couple and even parents has been the most challenging, yet rewarding process thus far. From tragically losing our first pregnancy, selling my first home, and welcoming the sweetest baby girl into our blended family has made us who we are today. I thank God everyday for placing Brandon in my path because I truly could not have asked for a better man.

The good Lord must have equipped Brandon well to put up with me! This man has listened to me ask, plead, beg, demand, and whatever else you can think of to marry me for quite some time. I think he was just sick of hearing me talk about it so he popped the question! But in all seriousness, I just could not wait to spend the rest of my life with him. This day was kind of comical though. Brandon and I are simply terrible when it comes to these types of things. I think we just get too excited and we explode with too much information and just ruin the whole surprise. Brandon took me to the Kingwood Center in Mansfield to view their Christmas lights display. At the end, they have this giant light up tree you could stand inside and get your picture taken in. We asked this lady if she would take a few photos of us inside this tree. She took a few and handed me back my phone and asked us to check the photos to make sure we liked them. I proceeded to tell her that I was sure they were fine and thanked her. Brandon insisted that I look at them, but there were more people in line and I assured him they would be fine. He demanded we take a "funny" picture then and annoying I agreed. When we got back over to the lit up tree, Brandon proceeded to say while getting down on one knee, "a funny one like this. Will you marry me?" Now if I had just ruined his proposal I think I would have died. Everyone cried even the lady taking our photo and I could not stop smiling and asking him if he was sure for the rest of the night. I just could not believe that moment in time was real. My best friend had FINALLY asked me to marry him!