Our story began four years ago in October, at a gathering with mutual friends. At the time, Everett was at A&M, and Caylie was at Texas Tech. We immediately felt a connection, but with the uncertainty of long distance, neither of us knew if we could make it work. After countless prayers and heartfelt conversations, we made the bold decision to take the leap. What we didn't realize was how pivotal that time apart would be for both of us. It was in those years of distance that we each grew in our faith, developing a deeper and more personal relationship with the Lord than ever before. Though the separation was tough, it was essential for the growth of our relationship and the shaping of our character, laying the foundation for where we are now. We spent three long years, seven hours apart, until Everett graduated from A&M and moved to Midland to begin his career. Just a few months later, Caylie wrapped up her time at Texas Tech and landed a job in Midland as well. After all that time, the dream finally became a reality—after 3.5 years apart, we were just ten minutes away from each other. From seven hours apart to living in the same town—it has been worth every second since.

We decided to celebrate Caylie's 23rd birthday in Colorado Springs with our best friends, Cass and Chris, in December. Little did Caylie know, Everett had a surprise up his sleeve—he was planning to propose on her birthday. Before the trip, Everett went to pick up the engagement ring, only to find out it hadn’t arrived yet. In a panic, he called Cassidy, who suggested overnight shipping since Caylie’s birthday was the next day. Everett followed her advice, and we set off on our journey. Caylie, blissfully unaware, was living in her own little world, oblivious to the big plans unfolding. The next day was packed with birthday festivities. We visited Pikes Peak and indulged in delicious food, while Everett anxiously awaited the ring’s arrival. Caylie hoped the proposal would happen on her birthday, but wasn’t entirely convinced it would. As the day went on, Everett received a call from the jewelry store: the ring would be delayed another day. Both he and Caylie ended the day slightly disappointed. This twist of fate worked out perfectly for Everett, though, because the next day, Caylie suspected nothing. Cassidy took her shopping to keep her distracted while Everett nervously awaited the delivery. After what felt like an eternity, the UPS truck finally arrived, and the plan was back on track. Later, as Caylie was getting ready for a fancy dinner, Cassidy and Chris lied saying they had an appointment they had to attend, so they dropped us off at a beautiful lake to “wait for them”. Everett led Caylie to a secluded spot, where he told her he had been praying about asking her to be his wife. Then, he got down on one knee and asked her to spend forever with him. It took Caylie a moment to process, as she was overwhelmed with emotion, dancing around and shouting, “Finally!” Afterwards, we captured some beautiful photos and enjoyed an unforgettable dinner, sharing all the stressful and hilarious moments of the past 48 hours.