We went to the same school and we knew of each other through my cousin and his friend Dallas. We had never spoken in high school, but we just knew who each other were. I always thought Lucas was really cute and very outgoing. He had moved to Colorado for 6 months and because I followed him on social media, I was aware of this. He would like my pictures quite often on Instagram. So even though we didn't see each other or really even talk for that matter, we still sort of kept up with each other. One time while Lucas had come back to Lenoir City to visit, he was at Sonic Drive in and my best friend and I just happened to go there one night to get some ice cream. Lucas apparently saw me when I was there and messaged me later that evening and said he'd seen me there. He said that we should hang out, and although I thought he was really attractive, I figured he wasn't really looking for a serious relationship, so i jokingly said yeah we should, but had no intention of actually going through with it. He went back to CO after that and we kind of left it there. A few months later, on Cinco De Mayo, Lucas happened to message me again and ask me about what I was doing for the holiday. We began chatting after that and he asked me if i'd like to hang out sometime, that he was moving back to Lenoir City. I gave it some thought and we decided to meet in Lenoir City one evening and hang out. We had our first date on May 11th 2016. We met at Baskin Robins (we were supposed to meet at Walmart, but he called me on my way there and changed the location...we immediately thought each other's voices were so cute. We both have pretty strong country accents). We got ice-cream and drove around town and then went to the Bluffs to watch the sunset. We both felt so comfortable with each other and knew something was different. A good different. We had a few more dates and he officially asked me to be his girlfriend later that month on May 29th.

Lucas and I have known from almost the beginning of us dating that we'd get married. There was just something there that was different than any relationship we'd been in so far. I told him many times along the road that I was ready and whenever he was ready we should go for it. I wanted it to be on his timing, but was just letting him know that I was indeed ready (Code for MARRY ME PLEASEEEEEE.....without saying it of course). I can be impulsive and impatient and Lucas is very patient and thinks everything through before doing it. He is strong where I am weak and vice versa. So he'd tell me that even though he'd love to marry me tomorrow, it just wasn't the right timing. I'd get frustrated at first, then in the end I'd say ok I know you're right (that happens a lot btw.) So since that was always the conclusion we came to I seriously wasn't expecting the proposal. I'd planned a surprise weekend date for Lucas just because I wanted to find a way to show him I loved him. I'd planned to take him to the mountains and a nice dinner in The Smoky Mountains. I can't keep a serious surprise so I told him that I had a surprise for him. He kept asking questions about what we were doing and said he really wanted to take a drive and go to the mountains...(which is exactly what I had planned). So, on November 11th, we hopped in the car and headed to Max Patch. Of course, we had to stop for a drink at the gas station. As we were pulling out, it was exactly 11:11pm on 11/11 and I said "11:11 make a wish." (Little did I know the very thing I wished for was about to come true!!!!) We listened to the new Taylor Swift album because it had just come out. Music seems to connect to whats going on in our lives at the time when we listen to it, so in the car I thought I wonder what I'll look back on and think of someday when I hear these songs.....to be continued on next post...I ran out of characters :o

We drove up the mountain and somehow got a good parking spot at Max Patch. We walked up to the top and found a spot we hadn't been before .The mtns. were so smoky on this particular day. We had brought some snacks and after the hike up, I was ready to dive in on my granola bar. I was just crunching away and talking about random stuff. I asked Lucas, "Do you want a bite?" He said, "No, I'm just taking in the view honey." I then realized I should maybe stop crunching and enjoy the moment. After a few moments of taking in that gorgeous view together, Lucas said, "Hey, stand up, why don't I get a picture of you?" I was like ok because I'm all about a good picture for Insta. So I started working it, the model that I am ;) (jk). I was facing the mountains so he could get a picture of me from behind, and he asked me to turn around and close my eyes. I was confused because I had sunglasses on. I remember saying something silly like, "Wait, can you see my eyes?" He was like no just close your eyes as he was reaching into his pocket. Now side note for a second, I mentioned before how much we'd discussed marriage, but we planned on waiting for a while. Lucas had been in this weird middle stage of his life, where he's ready to make big life decisions, but doesn't have the career and finances to do it yet. He was debating on doing this trade school and it would take him at least a year to finish it. So it would be probably at least a year and a half before we even thought about getting engaged. So back to the story, I wasn't expecting it because of that. At this point, I realized what was happening. He got down on his knee and said Symarah Denelle Watson, will you marry me? (he said more than that, but that's all I heard). It was so sweet because I planned this big surprise for him, and he took that opportunity to give me the best day of my entire life. The ring was absolutely stunning and more than I could have imagined. I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with this man.