It's Gonna Be May.

Jeff: "Erica and I spent our second date walking in Shelby Park after a nice lunch at Mitchell's Deli. It was late spring, and there were lots of long trails to discuss theology and scripture on. You might think a second date is too early to talk about deep faith-based concepts, but Erica met me step-for-step and had great answers and thoughts to share. We reached the end of a path and the ground got muddy. I saw that Erica didn't have appropriate shoes for this kind of walk, so I suggested a different route. She laughed it off and hopped over the mud like it was nothing. This was a girl who had the brains, the heart and the blissfulness to make something last forever." Erica: The truth is that I knew from the beginning that this could be something; from that first date at the Mexican restaurant I can't remember the name of (...sorry). I was struck with how comfortable I felt with Jeff. He could flow with me in conversation, from profound to silly. I loved that we could talk about our convictions so freely, but I guess it was our date at the City Forum (a few dates in) where we played miniature golf, that I truly saw myself growing old with him. This might be because we started acting and talking as if we were an elderly couple from New Jersey who had been married for 50 years already (Jersey accents and arthritis included--you know, the whole package,) even though we were in a public place... I thought, "If we have this much fun just acting like an old married couple, imagine what it will actually be like?" Cue, "Wouldn't It Be Nice" by The Beach Boys (sing it in your head, trust me, it makes it all feel that much more sentimental.) I found someone, unexpectedly, who I could build a life with; a life that finds joy in the little things, creates beauty out of mess, and puts love above all else." Jeff: "Oh, I remember. It was the Rosepepper Cantina."

For Erica's September 3rd birthday, Jeff had planned a quick visit to a favorite locale for both--Twin Falls at Rock Island State Park in Rock Island, Tennessee (70 miles from Nashville.) There would be a quick hike to the falls, and a nice picnic by the river somewhere. The day before, Jeff made scratch tomato basil bread and a "secret fancy sauce" for Turkey Bacon Bravo sandwiches, packed a picnic bag with assorted fruits and pasta salad and loaded up the car. Erica arrived late in the afternoon and they headed out to the park. After arriving, Jeff became so nervous that he had to eat standing up. "It was obvious that something was up. She had to know something out of the ordinary was going on; anybody could tell that I was anxious." He bent down as if he were going to tie his shoe. "Hey," he said. Erica looked up. "Will you marry me?" He glistened. She held back tears. Then, the tears turned to laughter and joy. "YES!"