We had noticed each other at Church a couple of times but only in passing and it wasn't until May of last year that a mutual friend of ours was baptized and invited us to celebrate with him over lunch. We all met up for Mexican food and that is when I (David) got to meet Emily and her three wonderful kids for the first time. We talked about lots of thing including ... hunting. I remember telling Emily as we left in a joking manner that maybe someday I'd go on a hunt with her not thinking it would actually happen later on. What I do remember was the hug we gave each other as we said goodbye that day. It felt like I was saying goodbye to a good friend. It felt genuine and heartwarming. We would continue to grow in our friendship over gym workouts, coffee hangs, outreach events and, eventually discover our mutual LOVE for food and restaurants :D I was feeling a little frustrated one day when I realized my car needed a new alternator but to my surprise Emily said "Praise the Lord, that's easy!" Long story short I took my car over to her house and within an hour we had switched out the alternator. We then decided to pack up the kids and take a drive to the river as it was Labor Day. I remember driving the truck and Izaya (her oldest) express how happy they were to have me tagging along on the ride to the river. For me, it was was one of my happiest moments yet. I guess you can say we felt like family to each other before we even started officially dating :)

David called me up one day and told me to get ready to go on a surprise trip. All we knew is that we were going somewhere and we had to dress up for dinner. As I was getting dressed for dinner I could tell the kids and David were awful quiet. Turns out they were decorating the main room with lights and candles and pictures of David and I. I could music being played and the kids took me into the room where David was sitting on a couch with a guitar singing a song for me. I sat next to him and he then proceeded to sing a song we had just recently written together. I won't share the song here but one of the lyrics says "In an ocean of people baby, you are all I see. Looking at me, looking at you". David got down on one knee and proposed. I said yes and was then bombarded with excited hugs and kissed from everyone.