In May of 2018 I got a summer job working at Sartin Animal Care Clinic in Heber Springs, AR before my final year of college. After I graduated that next spring, I asked to come back to the clinic until I could go back to school. When I started back at work I met Lake. He was finishing up is preceptorship at SACC. We talked here and there throughout the day as we passed by each other. The first thing I noticed about him was how much he made me laugh — I mean, big laughs. I thought: "This guy has a direct line to my funny bone". About a month later he asked me to hang/help out at his church's VBS week. I played it cool and said I couldn't make it today, but maybe tomorrow. The next day I went and had the time of my life. We have been inseparable ever since. "When you know, you know."

Our faith has always been the most important thing to us— especially in our relationship. Before we even started dating we made a plan to read the whole bible together — a way to keep God our center and our focus. Everyday for over a year we read a couple chapters and discussed them. The next fall after we started dating, I had returned to school. However, I still tried to attend Wednesday night services. Lake and I drove in his truck to church and no one was there in the parking lot. I thought "there's no way we are early". We waited a couple minutes and thought about what we should do. I suggested we could just go ahead and read our chapters for the day since we're here. Now, this was an exciting day for us. These chapters we needed to read were our last chapters to read. We spotted a picnic table outside the church and sat there. After we finished reading I said that we needed a big hug to celebrate us reading the whole bible together! He swung me around and gave me a loving hug. After that, Lake said "Well now that we finished that chapter, it's time for us to start a new chapter". He then got down on one knee and pulled the ring of my dreams out of his pocket and asked me to marry him. Then.. I stared at him. I had no idea that he was doing what he was doing. Let me tell you why. Lake has a history of us walking together and slowing down, getting on one knee... to tie his shoe. So I didn't think this was really happening. As he was kneeling down I rolled my eyes and said "come on". He said I talked to your dad this morning and he gave me his blessing. Cue tears of excitement and happiness.