We’re getting married!

We were both working at the local hardware store, Ace Hardware, in Mineola, Texas. I had been working there for several months being a cashier. Nace had started that day, March 5th, 2020. We were in the middle of the worldwide pandemic where everyone was required to stay home unless you were an essential employee. This part plays later in the story. About a week goes by, we had had several little small talk conversations like, "How are you doing today" and "Good morning." Thursday was the truck day at old Ace Hardware, and I was at the front putting up paint supplies when Nace came from the back and started helping. I was thinking, "this is getting awkward; someone needs to break the silence" so I did. I asked him, "since your homeschooled, do you get to wear PJ's when you're at school?" He laughed and said, " I mean, I could if I wanted to." I saw that smile and felt my heart beat so much faster; I knew that this was going somewhere. Several days passed, and Nace had asked me to go out on a date. I declined. I am not for sure why I did. Looking back, I wish I would have said yes, thousand times yes. We still had conversations except, these went deeper than what your everyday co-workers would ask. I knew that if this was going to work out eventually, I needed to ask some questions. I asked if he believed in Jesus and if he believed that Jesus had died for our sins. He said yes and that he tries to put God in the center of everything he does. Right then I knew, Nace Allen Hood was the one. Eventually, he asked me out again to go to the lake. I finally said yes. August 2, 2020, was the day of our first date and the rest of our lives together. This essential employee working at Ace Hardware with a Bob Ross Afro had become one of the most essential things in my life.

My family had gone to Gulf Shores to get away for the week. I had asked if Nace could come and they said yes. We drove the very long car ride from Golden, Texas to Fort Morgan Beach, Alabama. We got on the ferry to ride to the island and it was just so calm amd relaxing. We made it to the shore and i was so ready to go to the beach and just breath in the salty air. Mom said that we had to go to the grocery store to get some groceries for the week, so Nace and I went along. By the time we got back it was already dark. We still went out to the beach and walked a little bit. We had bought disposable cameras to use on the trip. We had gotten the the edge of the beach when Nace said, “ Hey, can you take a picture of that? My camera isn’t working. “ I said sure and as soon as I turned around I saw my love on one knee. He said, “Elizabeth Grace Crittenden, I have loved you and known i was going to marry you from the first time I saw you. Will you marry me?” I said yes a thousand times yes. We went back up to the beach house where i squealed with excitement and showed my mom and sister. I then proceeded to call my Soon-To-Be-Mother-In-Law and told her the whole story. I called one of my best friends and my Soon-To-Be-Sister-In-Law and told her the whole story as well. I then called my dad who already knew. I called my grandma and told her and she said that she was so thrilled for us.