Ricky and I always wonder how we didn't meet until our senior year of college considering we went to USI at the same exact time and had many of the same friends. I can't remember exactly the first time Ricky and I spoke in person, BUT of course, I was the one who 'slid in his DMs' about whether he was going out one night with a group of friends. That turned into me helping me decide what to wear that night and him giving me his number! Although we didn't hit if off that night (we barely spoke), we continued to see each other at other parties and text some. Eventually, I think I was the one to ask him if he wanted to hang out and the rest is pretty much history! Oh, and he was taking too long to ask me to be his girlfriend so I just had to ask him to be my boyfriend by buying donuts and writing "Will you be my boyfriend?" on them. Ha!

The original plan was to pop the question at the zoo under the Christmas lights next to the penguins, but after sitting in 30 minutes of traffic less than a mile from the entrance, I had to think quickly about a backup plan. With the help of my mom, I decided that Monument Circle would have to be the place to do it! After spending 10 minutes compromising with Lindsey that we’d come back on a less crowded night (she REALLY wanted to go to the zoo), we finally headed towards the circle and I was able to let both families know about the new plan. Once we made it downtown, I had to stall her while my mom and her family got there. After walking around the circle a few times, taking pictures, and freezing our butts off, I finally got the okay that everyone was there. To her surprise, she saw her family, and I suggested we take a picture in front of the lights. As we posed, I stopped and pulled the “I have to tie my shoe” gimmick, slid the box out of my pocket, and boom! Once she realized what was going on, she immediately started laughing and crying, at the same time. After about 15 seconds on one knee and not getting an official answer, I asked “So..”, and she finally said yes! Once I got up, our professional hype man, Tyler, made sure that everyone knew she said yes, and everyone on the circle clapped and congratulated us.