Justin and I met at a bar in May 2014. I was a current teacher and he had just recently returned from Mexico and was looking for a teaching job. That night he asked for my email (what the heck?!) and later in the week sent me his resume. Coincidently (or not) we saw each other the following week at the same bar. This time he asked for my phone number. We walked our dogs for our first date at the Mentor Lagoons for close to 3 hours and he was late for his soccer game. As soon as I walked in the door after that walk I shouted to my mom "I think I am going to marry that guy, he loves his dog just as much as I love mine!". Fast forward 3 days before our 3 year anniversary, he proposes in his 2nd grade classroom (we teach at the same elementary school) and I said "YES!"

It was a dream, more than I could have ever imagined. Justin spent months on every detail and I never once had any idea of what he was planning. With the help of his second grade class and my students he made the most beautiful movie of my students and his. Their smiling faces made me cry instantly and as they told us why they love us as their teachers, the tears didn't stop. Towards the end of the video it was Justin's turn. He had recorded himself explaining what love meant to him, and then said "To the best second grade class, I know I have asked you so many questions this year, but the one I am about to ask might be the most important of all." He cued his students and they opened their desks and ran to the front of the room with beautifully colored letter posters. I am still sobbing and Justin continued being his calm self, organizing his students as to where they need to stand and who needed to turn theirs around. As I read "Can we call you Mrs. Rapp?" Justin got down on one knee, in the middle of his second grade classroom, and asked me to spend forever with him. The thought he put into it doesn't surprise me because he is the most kind and thoughtful person I have ever met and that is just one of the many reasons I love him. I couldn't be more sure of anything in my life. Together forever is everything I have dreamt of and more.