We met back in late 2012 while I was working at Boardwalk Bowl. Charles was bowling a league with a friend that I went to high school with. While I was serving that league, Charles made a point to introduce himself to me. In the back of my mind I thought "oh here we go." Week after week of trying to hit on me, and I was the least bit interested he finally asked for my phone number which I told him he would have to wait until I got off work. I was trying to avoid giving it to him but Charles sat around until I was off work. I knew then I had to give it to him. After multiple times of trying to take me out and repeatedly getting shut down he started to give up. Fast forward to December 2013, I was working at Gator's Dockside on a Saturday afternoon and I thought I had seen Charles leaving the restaurant. I immediately texted him asking why he would come into my job and not say anything to me. Come to find out he was in Illinois moving a friend back to Florida. Of course he responds with "so you only text me when you think I am at your job." I should of known what I got myself into by sending that text. He proceeded to invite me out when he got back to Florida and I couldn't shut him down again. Little did I know, Charles would sweep me off my feet and make me fall completely in love with him.

As everyone knows, we have done things a little backwards. In March of 2015 we welcomed our beautiful daughter into the world. Things for us were anything but easy, we laughed, we cried, we have had our many ups and downs along the way. Since having Ellie we have grown so much as individuals, parents, and a family. Ellie taught the two of us so many things, we have learned who we want to be, how to be the best parents we can be, to always try and do your best and most importantly that we always need to stand by each others sides. In January 2019 we realized we wanted to make the big step of buying a house. We knew we had a lot to do to make this possible, but it was what we needed. In February 2020 this dream was made possible by not only us but with the help, love and support of our family and friends, and we bought our 1st home. Shortly after, Covid struck and we had to stick together more then ever before. This tested us as individuals and a couple, we stuck together and got through one of the hardest times of our lives and came out even stronger as a couple and family.

Happy Mother's Day to me! This Mother's Day started like any other one, I was woken up by Ellie yelling "Happy Mother's Day!" Charles asking me what my plans were for the day which I had only planned to have lunch with my mom. He then told me to not plan anything else which I didn't even question (little did I know). We had lunch, came back home and played outside with Ellie for a little bit. Charles said he wanted to take me to dinner and wanted to go somewhere we had never been to. Fine by me for not having to choose where to go this time. He took me and Ellie to a restaurant on the water in Cocoa, while having dinner he asked if we wanted to go walk on the beach since we were close by and hadn't been in years. We got to the beach and walked for a little bit while Ellie looked for shells along the way. We stopped and Ellie sat down and started building a sand snowman. Charles began talking about our life and how far we had come after all this time, which was nothing out of the ordinary we talked about it all the time. He then proceeded to say how he wants me and Ellie for the rest of his life and that's when I looked back and he was down on one knee. I was so taken back and full of emotions, I was crying so much I couldn't talk so I had to nod yes to him. I couldn't have asked for a better proposal, having Ellie there for it made it even better. I still can't believe she kept a secret from me for so long!