We met on a dating app, but that's the boring part. Sparks flew instantly and we talked all day, every day. Our first date was an impromptu lunch date while I was at work. She made a pit stop on her way home from work and brought me pizza (she still remembers my MOD order to this day). We sat in her car and talked for my entire lunch break. Thirty minutes has never felt so short. The next day I flew back to California and we didn't see each other for another week. Our second date was much longer, and this time I didn't smell like burgers and fries! We went and got ramen at this cute little restaurant down the block. We stayed and talked so long the employees kept coming to our table to "check on us," which is code for "get out of my restaurant." Months later I found out that she doesn't really like ramen all that much, but she went with the ramen place because she wanted to make me happy, and she knew I loved ramen.

Grace and I met on a dating app. Before we had even met in person, she was going back to Cali. I really wanted to meet her before she left. One day she was talking about how she had to work a double and was most likely going to ask her brother for food. I offered to pick up some food on my way home and bring it to her. I brought her food after I got off, and we talked for her whole break. She was so cute and so sweet, I knew I wanted to date her and get to know her better.

I have always loved nature. And Grace's eyes remind me of that. I knew I wanted to propose somewhere that felt normal. So when I asked Grace if she wanted to go on a hike with me, I knew what I had to do. We went to a hike I had done years earlier. There is a fallen tree that I had carved an "A" into, and I wanted to show her that tree. When we got there I had asked Grace if she wanted me to carve a "G" next to it, and she said yes. So I carved the letter and had her sit next to it for a photo, but what she didn't know was that I had the ring box in my pocket. When she was getting ready for the photo, I pulled the box out and waited for her to be ready. When she looked up the box was open and I shared my reasons for wanting to marry her (those are just for us) and I asked her to marry me. She said yes, and I have never been happier. We took many photos that day at the beach. I was nervous but excited all morning. I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with this amazing woman. We immediately called my mother and let her know the good news.