They say everything happens for a reason and sometimes, the best things happen when you least expect them. It all started with both of us running errands and we accidentlly ran into each other. He asked for my number and we begin to text back and forth. He invited me out on a date the following weekend but I already had plans to go out of town to a dance recital and promised we would get together when I returned. After I returned I contacted him but I did not get response for a few days. I was just about to delete his number from my phone when I got a text saying, "Hey it's me Marc... my phone has been broken. I was hoping you would still like to go out with me. If you don't that's okay." I was excited but I waited a few hours to text him back of course just to make it interesting. Once I texted him back I agreed to go with him to Pirates Cove Mini Golf. When he picked me up he did all the things, he brought me flowers and chocolate . After mini golf we headed to Freddy's for a burger and fries. We shared our first kiss right there in the booth while talking about sports. After we finished dinner he was about to take me home but then he said "I don't want the night to end so he said let's go to Dave and Buster's it's close by." So that's where we went and a time was had as Marc did not know I was a master at Connect 4 and I beat him every time. We have been stuck like glue ever since.

It all started with an afternoon in downtown Suwanee. We spent the day walking through the art festival, taking in the colorful displays and enjoying the creativity that filled the streets. Afterward, we headed to Applebee’s for some delicious food and a little basketball on the TV. While I am not a basketball fan, I had one thing on my mind; their signature dish: Wonton Chicken Tacos. During the drive, Marc-Claury asked if I had been enjoying our past few dates. By that point, we had already shared some pretty special moments like a picnic at the park where we fed ducks, sip and paint, and a sweet trip to GiGi’s Cupcakes (because let’s be honest, who can resist cake when it’s your favorite dessert?). I smiled and said I was having the best time, and hoped our adventures together would keep going. That night, as we sat together watching Kobe Bryant’s retirement tour, Marc-Claury took a moment to turn to me with a soft, sincere look. “I want this to be official,” he said. “I want you to be my girlfriend.” And with a big smile and a heart full of joy, I said yes.

The Fourth of July has always been special it’s my grandmother’s birthday, and even though she’s no longer with us, our family still celebrates her every year with food, laughter, and love, whether we’re together or not. That morning started like any other day off for us. I made coffee and breakfast while Marc-Claury scrolled through YouTube Shorts. Midway through breakfast, he looked up and said, “I want to do something fun today. I actually have a surprise for you later, but we need to go get a few things first.” One of the things I love most about him is how thoughtful he is with surprises, even if it's just a sweet foot rub after a long day. Later in the day we headed to the dollar store and Aldi’s. Little did I know, he was gathering supplies for an at-home Sip and Paint. Back at the house, I spent the day cooking and making desserts, while the excitement quietly built. After dinner, he asked me to set up the Sip and Paint supplies “Because you’re a teacher and you’ll make it look nice,” he said with a grin. He told me we’d be having a little painting contest, and my mom would be the judge. As we sipped wine and started to paint, he suggested we turn our backs to each other so our paintings would be a surprise. We laughed and teased each other about who would win I was sure I had the upper hand, since I’m a preschool teacher and paint almost daily! After about an hour, Marc-Claury said he was going to get my mom to judge our masterpieces. We stood with our backs still turned, and he said I should go first. I showed my mom my painting, and she said, “That’s very beautiful and very colorful.” Then it was his turn. He told me to turn around but keep my eyes closed. “Open them when I say so,” he said. When I did, I saw him down on one knee, holding a beautiful box. After pouring his heart out, he revealed his painting: a sign that said, “Will You Marry Me?” I jumped with excitement and shouted, “Yes baby, yes!”