Lily and I were blessed to spend the summer of 2024 together in Belize. This was a University of Arkansas study abroad program with seven other students who played a pivotal role in the beginnings of our relationship. My first memory of Lily was seeing her sitting outside the Belize airport entrance, on the floor, and she greeted me with a smile. Lily and I had the unique experience of living in a house with the group and getting to know each other through game nights, family-style dinners, and living our best beach life. We also navigated a foreign country, avoided a hurricane, and endured the humid heat with no AC. Lily stood out because of her positive mindset, never getting bogged down by the obstacles we faced. Initially, we were just friends, but during the second half of the trip, we began spending more time together one-on-one. Eventually, the group caught on and supported these adventures that bonded us deeply. We became running buddies and swam in the ocean after each run. We trekked through the jungle, climbing waterfalls and finding swimming holes to escape the heat. I knew she loved sharks, so I suggested we watch Shark Week documentaries together so I could be close to her. I’d never seen Lily happier than when we got to swim with nurse sharks on an excursion in Caye Caulker! With all the time I spent with Lily in Belize, I knew I wanted to date her. On the last day of the trip, I asked her to go on an “official” date with me when we returned to Fayetteville. She said yes! The next year we spent every free moment together and grew closer to God. Inturn this lead to our relationship growing stronger. During our dating period we prioritized growing in our faith and determining God’s plans for our future. We discussed our core values, goals, and expectations of marriage. This was a time of great fun and laughter as Lily brightens my life. It didnt take long for me to know that I wanted to devote my life to her. This brings me to the proposal. I obviously wanted to keep it a secret from Lily and have it at a place that holds meaning for us. When Lily told me she was going to Santa Cruz for fall break, I was already in the process of designing an engagement ring. I knew this was the perfect opportunity: we could include her family at a place that is special to us. The day finally came when I got to ask her to spend the rest of her life with me. Aside from avoiding Lily at the airports and having flight trouble which caused me to fly in a day late, it was a complete success and Lily was surprised. She said yes! Coming August 2026, we will be moving to Belgium temporarily while Lily finishes her masters degree at Ghent University. We look forward to the adventures we will have and hope to stay in touch with people, so please don’t hesitate to reach out to us in our time abroad. I know that wherever life takes us, Lily will bring lots of joy and excitement to the rest of my life!