On a warm day in the middle of June, Ian and I met at a pizza restaurant called Cane Rosso. We shared a margherita pizza, and many laughs and stories. Afterwards, we ended up taking an hours-long walk around White Rock Lake. We had the best time, like a couple of old friends. That friendship eventually grew and deepened into something much more, and it has and will continue to be the sweetest thing to experience. Learning what the phrase "when you know, you know" truly means with each other is a gift we will never take for granted. We always like to say that God sent us each a miracle when we walked into each others lives. Our time together has been nothing short of pure magic. It has been filled with exciting adventures and big, joy-filled moments - celebrations, roadtrips, milestones, and so many answered prayers. But, this season has also been marked by all the beauty and meaning we have found in the "little" things: evening walks, shared meals, skipping rocks like little kids, our everyday conversations, inside jokes, Ian playing his guitar while I work on a drawing, "I am thinking about you" notes throughout the day, and more things than we could ever attempt to list. Those "ordinary" moments are extraordinary when lived with each other. This chapter has been a special one, and we are so excited to see what our next one has in store. Gig 'Em & Hail State!

Good things tend to happen on warm days in the middle of June. That Saturday was no different, and will forever be one of the most unforgettable days of our lives. A week or so before, Ian had told me we should go on a picnic and that I should wear my "pretty white dress" - his way of telling me without actually telling me. My mom lovingly packed us lots of goodies inside a picnic basket Ian's mom had found for us, and we headed off to a place called Prather Park. On our way there, Ian seemed surprisingly calm and talked to me about the principle of relativity and mechanics. I was only halfway processing what he was explaining because my mind was on other things - we were about to get engaged (I was pretty sure)! We found "our spot" on a small cliffside overlooking a stream after passing by some tennis players blasting some Michael Jackson song... super romantic. We had to laugh. But, everything faded around us as we sat and enjoyed each other's company. Ian soon brought out his guitar and began playing "Can't Help Falling in Love" by Elvis Presley, and we both sang along together. At one point, in the middle of a quiet park, I saw a photographer. She was taking photos of another couple. I thought that could be a cover-up and "our moment" was about to happen. Turns out, those people were not involved in the proposal at all, but the timing was pretty funny. Eventually, Ian said that we should probably pack up and head back home. I knew we were going home to "visit with family" since Ian told me that earlier. I figured that was code for some kind of celebration. I was fairly certain he was going to propose at our picnic, so when we started packing up, I thought "he is missing a crucial step here!" When we made it back to my family's house and got out of Ian's truck, he took my hand and led me along the sidewalk in the front yard. He began talking about some of our special memories that took place in different spots: long, late-night goodbyes in the orange glow of the streetlamp, staying up until sunrise talking while sitting on the sidewalk step, him putting a flower in my hair across the way, so many pick-me-up-and-spin-me-around hugs and sweet reunions, our first kiss, many goodbye traditions started... and then he picked me up and brought me towards the front entryway. Before I knew it, he was on one knee asking me a very important question! It probably took me 0.02 seconds to answer "YES!" - and after having a few moments to soak it in, our family came out and surprised us (with their presence and with a cute picnic/ "Up" themed engagement party!). We spent the rest of the night celebrating with everyone. I couldn’t have pictured anything more special and intentional if I had tried!