We met on Bumble! A friend of mine encouraged me to "get back on the scene". I created a Bumble profile and the swiping ensued. But it wasn't for long! Six days later I swiped right on the man I would soon call my bestie for the restie! We skipped the small talk and immediately clicked. Within the week, we knew we wanted to meet and planned to meet that weekend. Unfortunately Selena (our fur baby) got sick and we weren't able to meet that weekend, and rescheduled for the next weekend. I always knew in my heart he would be the man I would marry, but as soon as we hugged on our first date, I knew for sure he was my forever. We met in Elgin, Texas at Aviator Pizza & Brew Company, settled down with a Blood Orange Austin Eastcider, and talked until we literally had to leave because the restaurant closed. When you know you know. We decided on that day, Halloween 2019, that we would "be an item". And it's history from there.

The night before the proposal, my mom encouraged me to paint my nails and do my hair. She played it off by saying I should do my makeup nice, my nails, and hair "just because". I didn't think anything of it, because I like to do that anyway. August 2, 2020 I woke up and did my makeup and put a cute dress on. Ralph had already told me we were doing a DIY photoshoot in the park. So there we were, driving around Austin. Listening to music and vibing as per usual. He asked if I wanted to eat at Aviator Pizza & Brew Company and I said no (I was trying to watch my carbs...crazy right?). This will be important later. We headed for The Domain in Austin to do some light shopping, and after he said we should go to the park to which I replied no...this will be important in a minute...keep reading. I told him "If it's not about food, I'm not interested" (I was getting hangry). After we ate we headed to the park for our DIY photoshoot. We found a cute location and started snapping pics. The Texas sun was beating down on us so Ralph found another place across the park where it was shaded. I wasn't down for marching across a park with the sun melting the top of my scalp, but Ralph said "It'll be worth it". Under a beautiful shaded tree, we started taking pictures and after one he said "Take one more". When I hit the button to count down a timer to take a picture, he pulled out a ring box. It took a few seconds to register then the tears flowed as he spoke the sweetest words and asked me to be his wife. I managed to squeeze out a yes between sobbing. So why was the part about the Pizza spot and the stop at the park earlier in the day important. He was going to propose at the Pizza spot where we first met! Then the first time he mentioned going to the park, he was going to propose then, but my hanger took over! I love the pictures we took in the park because I can see the ring box in his hands or in his pocket! As nosey as I am, I didn't scope that out!

It was a Sunday in August and the ring came in early the day before. The plan was to propose the following Friday but I knew I couldn’t wait that long. I called my mom and her mother the day before and showed them the ring. It was like the day before Christmas. The plan was simple. Get her to the park at Lady Bird Lake for a “photo shoot”. (We go there often to take pictures). Fast forward to 20 minutes before. I’m super excited as we’re driving towards the park. The ring was hidden in the pocket in the seat literally behind her. I’m driving looking for a parking spot excited to get to the park. She looks and ask me where we are going. I stated we are going to the park to take pictures. She says to me, “I don’t want to do anything else until I get something to eat.” I’m thinking, “If she only knew.” We find a food truck park to sit and eat. The nerves are building as the time for me to pop the question is drawing closer. We finish our meal and head towards the park. It’s time to ask her one of the most important questions ever. We start heading towards a spot to take a couple of photos. The area is not quite what I was looking for to pop the question, so I suggested another spot down the way. She stated that it was too hot and she didn’t want to walk that far. I told her it will be worth it. We get the the location and we get to the point to where we're taking certain poses. There was a certain pose that she suggested that I saw the opportunity to present the ring. It was a pose where we were looking at each other and at this moment, this is when I presented the box with the ring. It took a minute for her to register what was going on but as the seconds went on she realized what was about to happen. As the tears flowed I got down on one knee and spoke directly from my heart. From here, I asked the woman I love, my best friend, my lover, the woman that I want to spend the rest of my life with if she would marry me.