Curtis loved me before I even knew him. He says he saw me from across the cafeteria our Junior year of high school and just knew—I was it. I wish I could say I had the exact same feelings but, it took me nearly 2 years to come to my senses and trust that he was what God had for me. We built a friendship throughout high school, experiencing highs and lows in life. Curtis would follow me to the library almost every afternoon and sit with me then walk me to my car. I didn’t understand at the time the sparked interest in me, because I had never received it. We began courting on May 3rd, 2015. Just two 18 year olds still not very sure what we were doing. Now, over three and a half years later, everything makes sense. Curtis showed me the unconditional love that I always longed for from a man. He pursued me relentlessly and never gave up. I, once clueless, have now seen how perfect Curtis is for me. We're designed and set apart for each other. We cannot wait to embark on this next season of life it seems we’ve waited on for quite some time. God is so faithful and we are proof.

Curtis had arrived into town on November 8th, 2018 when in which we had brunch, resting, and a walk in the park planned. We started the day at Sweedeedee—one of our favorite little breakfast nooks in Northeast Portland. Then we walked outside toward the car but I bugged Curtis for a photo-op. He snapped some photos of me and I snapped some photos of him—and his shoes. We drove back to my little dorm, where we made tea and rested for a few minutes. I took off my shoes—Curtis didn’t. Once our energy levels were back up, we headed out to Washington Park, hidden in the west hills of Portland. It was so brisk outside but the park was really beautiful at this time of year. We then made it to where the Rose Gardens are in the park—most were out of season, only a few were in bloom. We found the Japanese Gardens (our biggest hope to see), but there was a cover charge to get in so we decided to turn back the way we came. Just before reaching the steps descending away from the Rose Garden, Curtis says “I think I have a rock in my shoe.” Me, positive there was no way he had a rock in his silly high top boots, brush the comment off. How could he have had a rock get in there? I prance down the stairs but once past the landing, Curtis stops and reaches down to check his shoe. I’m very oblivious to everything happening—especially the fact that Curtis is on one knee. He unties the laces of his boots and utters “That’s a big rock...” At this point I’m looking down, as close as I can, at his hands, but I see nothing. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, Curtis raises the “rock” that was in his shoe and asks, “Makayla, will you marry me?” All I managed to get out at that moment was a “whaaat!?” with a sideways grin on my face. Then I remembered I was supposed to really answer, when in which I was so pleased to reply, “yes.”