Spencer & I first met 20 years ago during our freshman year of college at UNO. We had mutual friends from high school & were in a couple of classes together, too. Spencer had a crush on me & we'd joke that I was his "day-time girlfriend." Being the ladies man that he was, naturally he already had a girlfriend at the time so we stayed just good friends. Time went by & we eventually lost touch.

Nearly 2 decades later, we reconnected by chance to discover life had dealt us both similar hands. We decided to meet up after work one day to catch up but then Spencer asked a very curious question: "What time are we meeting for our 'DATE'?" Uh oh! This was NOT a date! This was just 2 old friends, meeting up to have a drink & catch up after a long time. He would laugh & dismiss my denial...eventually referring to the meet up as our "not-a-date." As the week went by, he would call in the evening. (...which I thought was so strange! People do not TALK on the PHONE anymore. We text. LOL) I humored him but continued to insist our meet up was NOT a date. Still, he would chuckle & reply with a sarcastic, "Ok, suuure suuure." So, Friday finally came & we met up at Bonefish Grille in Metairie. Our "not-a-date" went pretty great. Spending time with him was like coming home: relaxed & easy. We laughed and laughed throughout our evening of conversation. I gave him a hug good-bye & we promised to get together again soon. I wasn't sure what had just happened but I was very happy to have reconnected with an old friend.

A week or so later, I received a surprise delivery at work: a dozen red roses with a card that read, "Smile, someone is thinking of you." It was signed, "Your Secret Admirer." Spoiler alert, they were from Spencer! I was speechless. No one had ever done anything so sweet for me before. He definitely got my attention so I agreed to go on a REAL date with him, since our first meet up was NOT A DATE! ;-) The next year was a whirlwind of flowers, surprise lunch dates, tons of laughter, adventures in the ole' Bronco & most importantly, Sunday mornings at Church. I had not been to Church in a few years but when Spencer invited me to come check out his Church, I obliged. He was nervous about my impression since it was a Christian Church & I grew up going to a traditional Catholic Church. I LOVED it! I was moved to tears by the opening worship songs. The joy, peace & forgiveness I found would not have been possible if God had not brought Spencer back into my life. We eventually tested the waters hanging out with all of our boys together. Spencer had 2 boys, ages 9 & 11. I also had 2 boys, ages 8 & 17. To our relief, everyone got along very well & I began to see Spencer for more than just the handsome, caring & witty man he is- A man of God. He makes countless sacrifices for his children, is compassionate, patient & above all, loves God with all of his heart. It was around this time that I realized that I quite possibly had found the person that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. *correction* The man God sent for me to spend my life with.

2-1/2 years later, at our favorite restaurant, Palmetto's on the Bayou, Spencer took me for a walk out on the private dock at sunset. I spotted a dozen red roses on a table in the corner. Were those for me? Oh my gosh! There was an envelope with MY name on it! The card inside read, "You are my everything. I want you to be my FOREVER." When I turned from the roses, Spencer was down on one knee & asked me to marry him! Of course I said YES! As we walked back to the dining room, it erupted with clapping & cheers of congratulations!

Life is a funny, complicated & inexplicable adventure. We appreciate the difficulties we have had to overcome in our lives because they brought us to where we are today - together...& there is NO place I would rather be & no one I can imagine spending forever with other than Spencer. As if that wasn't blessing enough, I get to be a bonus-mom to two incredible young men & my son's are gaining an exceptional role model & bonus-dad! <Insert cliche' #blessed here> 09.19.20 It's a date!