Love, laughter and happily ever after

We met back in high school during our junior year playing basketball with our dads. Josh doesn't remember the details of that day at Jefferson High School. All he remembers is that I was the "tomboy" that got hurt that day. Truth is, I was a tomboy back then because basketball was my passion, and I felt I had to look like a baller to be taken seriously. I noticed a cute boy that day, and I was so embarrassed that I dislocated my shoulder during that game and cried. It was the typical story of a girl who had a crush, but the boy didn't even notice her. Josh always had a girlfriend, even when we worked together at Academy. So again we crossed paths, but the stars were not aligned for us at that time. I went on to date all the wrong ones, and Josh went on to have two beautiful daughters. Years went by until we finally met again at Josh's dad's retirement party, January 24, 2015. I got my hair and makeup done that morning to try and catch the attention of the boy I had a crush on years ago. It finally worked! I finally got the nerve to say hello after some liquid courage, and we talked all night long. We went to Mi Tierra with our parents after drinks at Bar America. The guy I was talking to at the time ended up meeting us there (he invited himself), but that didn't stop us from flirting with each other. I told myself dating a guy with two kids would be too difficult so I tried to resist, but I was having too much fun with him. Concert after concert, karaoke nights, softball games, volleyball matches, and yep, you guessed it, 3-on-3 basketball. We are so different but had so much in common. I realized I was head over boots for him when he took me to meet his mom after one of our softball games. Then I fell in love with his girls, and couldn't resist my love for him any longer. Our relationship isn't perfect, but our love is true. "God knew what he was doing when he led me to you."

I bought the ring in March 2021 then asked her parents for their blessing at Mi Tierra, where it all started. After her parents gave their blessing, I told them my plan for the proposal. The plan was to propose at our Disney World family vacation, which they weren't going to go originally. I wanted them to secretly join us to surprise Jess. The months leading up to the vacation, my mom and sisters helped me plan when and where I was going to pop the question, while also communicating with Tony and Carla about the arrangements. I took the ring to my moms weeks before the trip so Jess wouldn't see it while packing. The night before at the hotel, I got with my mom and sisters to discuss the final plan, and checked in with Tony and Carla, as they arrived in Orlando that day. I didn't tell my girls about the proposal because I knew they would spill the beans. I couldn't sleep that night because I was nervous and anxious, but also relieved that I wouldn't have to keep the secret much longer. The plan was to walk into Magic Kingdom and propose on Main Street in front of the castle with her parents hiding close by, but due to unforeseen delays (*cough* Tony and Carla running late), we had to make last minute alterations so Jess wouldn't get suspicious. So we got on a couple rides while I waited for her parents to arrive. When they arrived, I convinced Jess to go back to the front of the castle to take more pictures. We got lucky and found a photographer closer to the castle than I originally planned so it worked out perfectly. After a couple of pictures, I saw Tony peeking out from behind the lamp post so it was either now or never! I asked Jess to take a picture with me, turned to her and proposed. (what was said will remain a secret ;) After she said "yes" I told her I had one more surprise for her, and pointed to her parents. The pictures the photographer captured say it all. Jess was so happy, my girls were happy, I was happy, and everyone else was relieved from keeping the secret for so long. Jess says it was the perfect, magical proposal she secretly dreamed of.