Lauren: We met in college! We had mutual friends and I often saw him walking through the nursing building (which was my major). I always thought he was super cute and even initiated a quick chat with him one day. Fast forward a few weeks, in December (2014) we were both at a small party one night. We were playing typical college games, but I went home instead of going with the group to a bonfire. I woke up the next day with a private message from Charles to see how I was doing since he didn’t see me the rest of the night. We made jokes and after so many messages, we ended up linking for breakfast the same day. We have been inseparable since.
Charles: I knew from the moment I saw Lauren in the Nursing and Chemistry building at Georgia Southern that I was going to make her my wife. Everything seemed to be lining up and then…Corona virus hit, and it felt like everything was turned on its head. How was I going to profess my love for Lauren in a world that was on lockdown? ...Skydiving! May 29,2020-Lauren constantly asked me “are you sure you want to do this”. I asked her if she trusted me “of course I do, I just don’t want to jump out of a plane”. I was nervous all morning. I wanted everything to be perfect that day. I talked her into getting matching outfits for the jump. Lauren was way too distracted with jumping out of a plane at 14,000 feet to worry about me. My turn to jump came and there is no other way to describe the experience of falling out of a plane except total freedom and a strange inner quietness that comes with it. I enjoyed my freefall and when the parachute released, I started to practice my speech again. Lauren: I was sick to my stomach the entire day with anticipation of “the jump”. Charles jumped first, then it was my turn. I screamed and I was free-falling. The view was amazing! Then I saw… a huge sign that read “Will You Marry Me” on the ground. Charles: I waited on bended knee in front of a large “Will You Marry Me” banner for my love to come back to the ground safely. As she touched the ground she still seemed to be overwhelmed by her jump. It was perfect. Our friends and family were around us, the weather was perfect, and the energy was at an all-time high. Lauren: I walked over to Charles on one knee next to the sign with all our closest friends nearby. I wanted to cry when he shared his vision for our future together. I had imagined 100 different ways of saying yes to Charles, but that day he asked, and I was so shocked and buzzing with adrenaline that I barely got out “yeah.” I was so happy!