Justine had recently started her own Physical Therapy business and was adding suggested mutual friends on Facebook and then redirecting them to her business page. She came across Taylor’s profile, and certainly noticed how dashingly handsome he was, but seeing he lived in Orlando didn't think much else of it. The next day Justine had a message in her inbox from Taylor saying hello and asking how they knew each other. Knowing that she had never met him before, but a little embarrassed to admit to it, Justine played along and said he looked familiar as well. After some back and forth conversation on where they might have met before, but unable to figure out exactly where, they agreed that they probably just ran into each other in passing when Taylor lived in Tampa years ago. Not wanting things to end there, Taylor continued to make small talk through FB messenger with Justine for the next couple of days. Eventually, days of messaging turned into weeks. Becoming impatient, Justine asked Taylor if they were ever going to meet? It just so happened that Taylor had been invited to a birthday weekend in Dunedin, FL during the upcoming weekend. So Taylor finally asked Justine to dinner.

The date began with an early dinner at one of Justine’s favorite restaurants, “Forbici” in Hyde Park. After dinner, they walked around the local shops, stopping into Justine’s favorite plant store where Taylor bought a plant for Justine (which they later named their “Love Fern”). They then stopped into “Hyppo Pops” for some popsicles for dessert. Natural progression of the date meant that it was time for the date to end, but Taylor and Justine both agreed that they did not want the night to end! So they headed over to “Sparkman Wharf” for some live music, but only to get stuck under an umbrella in the pouring rain (I know so serendipitous!). After several hours of conversation about everything from hobbies and likes or dislikes, to family, politics and religion, they finally ended the night with a hug at the door, and Taylor made his way on to Dunedin. Justine woke the next morning to an invitation to join Taylor and his friends for a day at the beach. Wanting to see him again, and not knowing when that opportunity otherwise might be, she happily accepted! They spent the day at the beach and later went as his plus 1 to the birthday dinner with his friends. Before heading back to Tampa that night Justine invited Taylor to go see the movie “Top Gun” in theaters with her before heading back to Orlando the following day. An opportunity to see one of the best aviation movies of all time with a woman as beautiful as Justine… how could Taylor turn down such an offer?! Justine and Taylor would spend the next six months driving back and forth from Tampa to Orlando every weekend even if just to spend a couple of hours together! Days spent meeting each-others friends, going to each-others churches and falling more and more in love with each-other every day! Soon enough they found themselves looking for a new job and apartment for Justine in Orlando!

With the holidays upon them they headed up north to New Hampshire to spend time with Justine’s mother, Julie, and her fiancé, Michael. Unbeknownst to Justine, Taylor would ask for her family’s blessing to propose at his family's late Christmas gathering in Texas in early January. Spoiler alert...She said YES! Fast forward a few months, Justine and Taylor fly to Dallas, TX to celebrate a late Jan 5th Christmas with his family, some of which she’s meeting for the first time. It’s “Christmas Morning” and everyone is all done opening gifts, except Taylor announces he has one more gift, and leaves the room and returns with a box that he hands to Justine. (Now mind you, while Taylor had received blessings from both sides of their families to propose to Justine, he had not divulged to anyone, including all of his family that are present, when and where he intended on proposing.) Justine opens the gift to find a Bible with her name embroider on the front; only it had Taylor’s last name: “Justine Nicole Elenburg”. Justine looks up at Taylor, slightly confused at first, then as Taylor just smiles back and asks if she noticed the last name, it’s almost as if a light bulb goes off for Justine, and she quickly begins to realize what is happening. Taylor stands to his feet, pulls the ring from his pocket, (causing gasps and quiet cheers from all of his family who are just as surprised as Justine) and then takes a knee in front of Justine. After a few well rehearsed sentimental lines from Taylor, and the reading of I Corinthians 13:4-8, before you know it Justine is saying YES without even looking at the ring! (See video! She doesn’t even look at the ring before saying yes and pulling Taylor in for a kiss. There’s no better feeling for a man than truly knowing it’s not the ring she’s excited about getting… it’s you!!!)