Cameron and I met through mutual friends at DBU in 2013. When I first met him I immediately knew I wanted to marry someone with a personality and character like his. Now I get to marry HIM. I was initially attracted to how he served those around him – always offering to take out the trash, pick up after others, open doors, put together furniture, etc. I then realized he was offering to do these things more than normal for my roommates and I in order to spend more time around me (smart guy). On 9/30/2013 he left a glass bottle Coke on my bed with a sweet note and if you know me, you know Coca-Cola is the way to my heart. This started the ball rolling and shortly after we were staying up all night getting to know each other and spending as much time together between class and work. He quickly became my best friend and someone I couldn’t imagine my life without. Cam asked my dad for his permission to take me out on our first date and the rest is history!

“Be ready by 11:30 and be prepared for an entire day’s itinerary” is all I knew before our first date. Cameron drove us from DBU to his hometown of Tyler, TX to start off the date. First, we arrived at the fields where he grew up playing baseball. He wanted to show me a big part of his life and what made him into the person he is today. He also coordinated with his mom so that our favorite McAlister’s meal, flowers, and bat and balls were all waiting for us. We had a picnic between home base and the pitcher’s mound followed by some friendly competition of baseball. Once we got back to DBU he handed me a USB, and to my surprise he had his mom sneak photos of our date at the baseball fields (see them under the photos tab). These are some of our most treasured photos and the perfect way to always remember our first date. Not just on that day, but every day since I am amazed by Cam's thoughtfulness, his constant pursuit of my heart, and his desire to show me the things that make him who he is. He's caring in the details, makes the little things the big things, and is intentional in all he does.

After hiding the ring for almost three months, it was finally go time! This weekend began by heading to The Woodlands so we could "celebrate our birthdays" with Elena's family. Of course, there's a small part of the story that has to be mentioned: Elena napped pretty much the entire day of our engagement. With time dwindling down, I finally had to wake her up to get ready because I needed to “run an errand” before meeting up with her family for our birthday dinner reservations. Also, Elena kind of needed to get out of the house so the party preparation crew (AKA Elena's rockstar family) could get ready for the surprise party that was to come after popping the question. Dressed and ready for the evening, Elena and I hopped in the car for a short little trip and we arrived at the Mary Gibbs and Jesse H. Jones Reflection Pool in downtown Houston. Elena, of course, looked incredible as always and to say I was nervous is definitely an understatement. Yo estaba sudando como un campión ("I was sweating like a champion" because Lain taught me that one from the very beginning). We got to the spot where the big moment was going to happen and every thought, memory, and pure excitement for how everything was about to change filled my mind. Getting lost into those brown eyes that I was sold on from day one of our relationship, it was time for the big moment. Little did Elena know, her friend who is a professional photographer was hiding not too far away to capture everything. I pulled the ring out of my pocket, dropped to a knee, and asked Elena to spend the rest of our lives together. At that moment, I received the greatest YES I could have ever hoped for! With fiancé in hand, we walked to the car and I broke the news that we didn't really have reservations for a nice restaurant. Instead, we headed back to The Woodlands where our closest friends and family greeted us with cheering and big hugs as we walked in the door.