We had been texting all day, every day, for weeks and I wanted to go on a date with him so much - but we lived an hour and a half away from each other and I had no excuse to be anywhere closer. So I made one. I told him that I was going to be taking my mom to the airport and that I could meet him for lunch afterwards. He planned the location and the food and I made beet juice and got the picnic blanket and drove the distance to meet him. Arriving at the park, I called him to let him know I was there and he told me he was waiting in his little red sedan in the parking lot so I drove around looking for a red car to park near and could not find one. Finally, I called him and told him I thought I was lost but he told me he saw me driving around - so I just parked where I was and he got out of the car he was in and we began laughing - because he was in a rental car the entire time - so I was looking for a car that wasn’t even there. We found a spot under a tree and started our date; we talked nonstop and I got him to try my beet juice ( which is delicious and he definitely fell in love with me right then ). As we were eating, a flock of lovebirds literally flew overhead and landed on the tree near us. They remained overhead throughout our date - a telltale sign that we would end up where we are today. After being there for hours, we were finally packing up to leave and I shook out the picnic blanket we were sitting on - completely forgetting about my hidden snack stash 😬 I was so embarrassed. Candy flew everywhere. RJ just laughed and helped me pick it all back up - entirely confused about where it had even come from. Afterwards, I drove the hour and a half back home, convinced I would never let him know I had just driven three hours to have lunch with him, but also trying to figure out how I could make more excuses to be in Phoenix and see him again.

We met while she was living in Sedona and I was in Phoenix, so we had distance against us and COVID was starting to spread. Although this was an issue, we still were messaging back-and-forth constantly, every day, and were getting to know each other on such a deep level. When I was getting really interested in her, I wanted to do a video call with her but she said that she had internet issues and couldn't. Then I suggested that we do a phone call - but she said she was living in a rural area and the reception was spotty… so this started to sound like a catfish situation which made me hesitant, but I still enjoyed our conversation and decided to keep talking to her. We eventually set up a date to see each other when we were both free and it so happened to line up well because she was dropping her mom off at the airport in Phoenix and was able to come down sooner. When she arrived for the date, right away I loved her confidence, energy, and our conversation throughout the date was very relaxing and easy. She brought some homemade beet juice, which I was all about, and we were greeted by some love birds - which was a rarity - especially in Phoenix of all places. When we wrapped up the date, she picked up the blanket she had laid down and candy was thrown everywhere. So how could I not fall in love with her after that? We continued to get really invested in each other and made a lot of efforts to commute back-and-forth, even though the distance was far, but the chemistry and the soul connection we felt was strong, so we made it work. Eventually I made the leap to follow her to Texas and see where this would continue to go and here we are years later getting married. I am so grateful to have met her and I can't wait to see where our journey continues!