Crazy how it can take a documentation conference five states away to lead you to the love of your life. We both attended a conference in St. Paul, Minnesota with thirty or so other colleagues. This was the first time either of us had attended this conference and we were meeting so many new colleagues and friends. Over the next couple years, we bumped into each other at meetings and conferences and eventually ended up working in a small work group together, which led to the acquaintanceship developing to a friendship and then more. And here we are, many years later, looking forward to sharing our special day surrounded with family and friends.

What else happens on a Monday evening? While standing in the kitchen "chit-chatting", Jon asked if I had a minute to go out to the garden to see something. I blindly followed him to the garden. Once inside and under our grape arbor. Jon spun me around to find him on one knee. My reaction..."Oh no, are you okay?". I thought he fell. As he told me how much he loves me and wants to spend the rest of his life with me, I kept asking if he was sure. Possibly still in shock of the event. Of course, I said YES and here we are getting ready to say our vows and spend our lives together. Now, you may ask, why the garden and why under the grape arbor. This is actually the best part of the story. Jon built our garden with the grape arbor as the focal point in the middle. Growing up my great-grandfather had a grape arbor outside the master bedroom of his house. His love for gardening was passed down to me and I feel him when I'm in my garden. In addition, I always tell Jon how much he reminds me of my great-grandfather... so loving, kind, generous, forgiving and truly wonderful. While building the garden, Jon surprised me with a rock in memory of one my best friends Cassy, that passed away in 2017. So...Jon chose to propose to me between my great-grandfathers grape arbor and my Cassy rock. That's what love looks like...personal, beautiful and with a lot of loving thought. The icing on the cake...Jon asked my father for his blessing before even asking me to spend the rest of my life with him. To say I am blessed is not even expressing it fully.