His I saw Mandaline the first second I walked into class. I was determined to talk to her, I even told my friends about her. There was something about her that made me want to know more. Maybe it was her blue beautiful eyes, maybe it was the way her lips moved when she talked, maybe it was the breathtaking way she looked at me when we made eye contact, maybe it was the cozy hug she gave me during a class activity, it was love at first sight. The last day of class after the instructor dismissed us, I eavesdropped into the conversation she and other classmates were having about going to dinner. I jumped in and asked, “Can I come too?” We started a group text but they all started to cancel. I was upset thinking she would flake too until I got the text... "I’m still down if you’re down.” I couldn’t believe it, of course I was down....cool, calm, and collectively (jk I was really excited ) I waited 5 minutes and replied, “Yes, I’m down!” Hers We were both voluntold to attend a course at good ol' Parris Island. One day, I saw Josh sprinting through the parking lot and was relieved that I wasn't the only late one. He waited to hold the door open for me and as cheesy as it sounds, I swear it was love at first sight. My heart skipped a beat when the teacher put a "hug me" sticker on his back for a class icebreaker. I liked the forced hug way too much. For another activity, the teacher starting placing us into groups. I was disappointed because I had already calculated that we wouldn't be together. By some miracle, we were, and I finally got to talk to him. My sad attempts at flirting were teasing him for his Pringles and lemonade lunch, going out of my way to stand next to him for a group photo and lingering after class. Our classmates started a group message so we all could go out to dinner before everybody parted ways. I panicked when they all started cancelling one by one, so I nervously sent a text to Josh saying, "I'm still down if your down." The rest is history...

His Mandaline mentioned something about watching the fireworks on the roof of her apartment complex for New Year's Eve. I planned on proposing the following weekend but I had a feeling she expected that. I wanted to really surprise her and it wasn’t until we were getting ready to go out that I decided I was going to do it before it got dark. I came up with the excuse that we needed to recon the roof and see how we would watch the fireworks up there later that night. She didn’t want to go because it was way too cold but I finally convinced her to come out on the roof. I said I wanted to take a picture of us with the beautiful city of Nashville in the background. I could tell she was getting impatient as I set up my phone. I told her it was going to be a self-timer picture but really I began to record. My knees got weak and my heart raced a million beats per minute. I nervously counted down as I ran into her arms, kissed her pretty face and looked into her eyes, took a step back, and said “Mandaline Hatch, will you marry me?” She said yes and made me the happiest I’ve ever been in my life. Hers We were planning to watch the New Year's Eve fireworks from the rooftop of my apartment complex. Josh suggested that we go up to the roof early to make sure we could get up there that night. It was cold and I didn't feel like it, but Josh insisted so I reluctantly gave in. He pulled me up and the view was spectacular! Josh wanted to take a "photo" of the two of us with the view in the background, so he went to set up a self-timer photo (or so I thought). He came running back to me, counting down from 10...9...8...7...6... He kissed me, and kept kissing me past one. I felt his heart racing, and I wondered if the run had really winded him that badly. He pushed me back and said, "Mandaline Hatch", then got on one knee, "Will you marry me?" Of course I said yes! We're so excited to start this next chapter of our lives with you. See you in St. George!