Yay! We're getting married!

I met John on Tinder.. (yes it's a dating app). It was pretty unexpected. I told myself I would NEVER try to find a life partner online! I wanted it to be like in the movies, where the girl is just out and about on the street, a restaurant, a library, or some place and a gentleman approaches her telling her she's just so beautiful, and he'd like to take her out some time (or some other corny, romantic phrase). Stupid movies ruin real life for people sometimes. Haha. But as time went by in the real world and I had no luck finding a good man on my own, I thought I'd just see what's out there. To be honest I wasn't looking for anything as serious as what John and I turned out to be. Little did I know what God had planned. The first message John sent me was "What's a pretty girl like you doing in a not so pretty place like this?" Haha! I thought he was cute and funny so we started talking. We would talk on the phone for hours and I just felt like a stupid teenager with butterflies in my stomach. He asked me out on a date the day before Valentine's Day and he picked me up in his truck with a rose and a gift! This guy didn't even know me and he got me a gift! I thought he was super sweet and romantic (he even had a Frank Sinatra song playing in his truck when he opened the door for me). We went out to a Mexican restaurant and I was so happy to find out he LOVES spicy food (more than me actually). He was such a clutz and a goofball and he was just so handsome and he had all the right moves. I couldn't help but want to get to know him better. God knew what I needed and he sent me my prince charming (perfectly imperfect) and now here we are ENGAGED! Eeeeek!

In the middle of a multitude of transitions in my life. In Gods timing, I knew it would have been unpredictable. I prayed one day I’d meet her and I have prayed for my future wife for 5 years now. Praying that she would be the right fit, and persue God and life with me. In the trials of my own wants and bad decisions, Gods grace abounded and led me straight to you. On a social app I never imagined anything promising coming out of, I ran across her profile. Her biography was uplifting and her words lit me up and she looked so pretty! (Even more now!) I remember the first thing I said to her! “What is a pretty girl like you doing in a not so pretty place like this” little did I know it was within the first few days she opened the app when I messaged her. The weeks flew by and our love grew deeper. I remember the first time she said she loved me... and made me feel like a little kid again. I was getting out of her car and leaving to go home and as I was getting out she let out “I love you!” She said it super quickly ! Hoping i probably didn’t hear it. But I did, and I said it right back to her! The first time I saw her... February 13th.. we went out for Mexican food oh man I could not stop dropping things out of my hands for the life of me! I was love struck by everything about her! I love how you love me. Every thing that you’ve said. The words of encouragement the way you turn red. From the soles of your shoes to the top of your head I will love you forever even when dead. I cannot resist the feelings I feel and this is a big deal how could I ever know that you were a thief and my heart you could steal. Like, foreal. I love how your crazy matches mine ❤️ And honestly I don’t like this catagory. Because every time I’m with you it feels like the first day we just met.

On July 21st we were on our way to Rattlesnake Ridge and on our drive there for a quick second I thought "I wonder if he's going to propose up there today", but that thought immediately left my mind because I looked like poop (in my opinion) and why would he propose when I'm in hiking gear, with no makeup on, and no family or friends around to witness or take pictures? (ayayay John).. We were hiking up the mountain and got into a stupid disagreement which turned into us getting mad and frustrated with each other. He just sat on the trail and I thought he was being a big baby so I kept hiking up without him. On my way up I was just thinking he probably left me, he's going back to the truck, he's not going to make it all the way to the top, etc. So I thought I'd give him 10 minutes once I reached the top and if he didn't show up I'd start heading back down. Meanwhile I was just asking God to please give me patience for this man! Right at 10 minutes he arrived and sounded super normal. He said "do you want to get closer to the edge and take a picture?" (I really didn't want to, but I didn't want to be mean either). We got close to the edge and he asked a stranger to take a photo although he had his phone on "video" mode and the girl didn't get the hint.. we posed and she snapped a couple photos, then I looked at John as he started saying something and he reached his hand inside his pocket (I'm thinking "you better not be proposing right now") and he got down on one knee and proposed.. The words "are you kidding me" literally came out of my mouth because I could not believe he'd propose right after an argument. I'm sure he had very little desire to love me at that moment as did I. But God had to soften our hearts and made it just the way he wanted it. Of course I teared up, we got some good pics and a cute short video. The Lord definitely humbled our proud hearts that day and now we have so much more love, patience, and understanding for each other.

July 21st, A beautiful day, beautiful morning, beautiful ring hidden inside my backpack and a beautiful lady by my side. 🎒 It started off with me researching what to say when proposing, however I ended up giving up on searching and went with the no brainer (say something simple and from the heart, and don’t die falling off the cliff upon asking lol) On the way up the mountain side we had a fun time looking at the trees and tackling the inclines and scenery. About halfway up the mountain side I start bickering with her (somehow I want to believe it was part of the elaborate plan to make her dispose of the idea I was going to propose haha!) Well, at the point she took off on her way up the Mountain top without me with me not too far behind (gave me time to clean off the ring haha! ). When I got to the peak I was awestruck by the view! It couldn’t have been a more beautiful day! As I arrived I quickly noticed Claudia clapping and other people up there cheering and I got worried for a moment that someone else had proposed! I was asking Claudia “what happened what happened?!”. Thankfully nobody proposed! *phew* As Claudia was still grumpy at me, hahaha I asked a random couple to take photos of us on the ledge, and Claudia tried to resist a moment but could not after seeing the couple jumping up to the occasion with big smiles! And my batting eyes. Hehe. The first photo was taken and then the second, and then I hassle with trying to get the ring out as she starts to suspect something I begin by saying “Claudia, do you know what I love the most about you? You never give up. And you love me well. And I would like to spend the rest of my life with you, will you marry me?” As I carefully try and get onto one knee shaking I lift the ring sitting in the box glistening in the sun. Presenting it to her. She accepted! And the mountain top exploded into many cheers, claps and love! We will scale mountains together. Can’t wait to be joined together with you forever.