We met during the first few weeks of our first semester of college at Texas Tech University. I (Lydia) had sat down one morning in the dining hall of my dorm, and soon enough a young man sat at the table across from me after asking, "Is it okay if I sit here?". We quickly fell into easy conversation that lasted for hours. At the time, I was in a relationship and Matt was single. When the conversation(s) ended, he pulled out his phone for punching in my number. Instead I said, "why don't you put it in to my phone?" He did, and that was the end of it for some time, because I forgot to save the number and had a boyfriend anyway. We met again in a different setting some time later, but that's a story for another time. He frequently references that day as the day "he knew". He said there was a little voice in the back of his head that said "that one". So, he started the conversation that started our story. It's my favorite story, though I'm biased.

After our initial encounter, we didn't see or hear from each other for some time. Then, as luck would have it, Matt happened upon a close friend of mine and they went on a few dates. One day, my roommate (another mutual friend) told me that this close friend's latest romantic interest had left in a hurry from our room - while visiting - at the mention of their blonde haired blue eyed roommate. I asked what he looked like, immediately remembered, and blurted out, "OH IT'S BREAKFAST GUY!" After that, I told my close friend that she was right to date him because he was someone who was intelligent and could hold a conversation well. Matt and my close friend didn't work out romantically, but we all remained friends. Soon enough we were all together celebrating mutual friends' birthdays. Thereafter, we connected on Facebook and soon after that I became single. We went home - I to Illinois and him to Dallas - for Christmas. Once I came back, after a night out with my close friend...I told her I thought Matt was cute, and so she texted him my number. Later the next day, he messaged me and we soon were talking like we were meeting for the first time again. Within a couple days, we had a date scheduled at a local restaurant. Within a few weeks of that, we started officially dating as boyfriend and girlfriend.

Matt and I dated for close to two years. We started our relationship in February of 2016. From that point on, we went to many of his fraternity's parties, made more mutual friends, and supported each other through difficult times. I started nursing school after our first semester together. He started an internship at a local real-estate company. As a couple, we grew in faith by means of confirmation in the catholic church. We were able to go to weekly meetings for those seeking Catholic Confirmation as adults (RCIA). We also grew in faith by continuing to lean on God as difficult semesters weighed on us by way of private prayer. Then, in the beginning of our last semester of our respective undergraduate programs, he stood still in his living room. The few days before we'd had a serious talk about some problems in our relationship, but - like always - we made a plan to change. On this specific day, we had just eaten dinner. Afterwards, I was wondering if I'd stay to do my work or go.... then he stood in his living room. Still as a rock. I approached, and he said, "If there's anything I've learned in these past few days, it's that I'm lucky to have you in my life." I hugged him, and told him we were blessed to have each other. He then got on one knee, pulled out a red box from his pocket, opened it, and said, "Lydia, I can't imagine forever with anyone else. Will you marry me?" I don't remember what I did, but I said yes and that was it. Safe to say, I stayed for a little bit while he told me his original plan for proposal. This plan included a photographer on top of a hill in Austin, Texas, but I wouldn't have wanted my proposal to happen any other way. It was spontaneous, heartfelt, and a complete surprise.