Ben and Maddi decided to take a road trip to Arkansas in August, 2024. Yes, we know what you're thinking.... "Arkansas?!?". Yes, Arkansas. For months before the trip, Maddi bugged Ben about when he was going to propose (it's his fault for telling her he had the ring already). As the trip got closer, he had fully convinced her that he was in fact, NOT going to propose on the trip (rude, right?). So while she expected an amazing trip, Maddi was blind of just how amazing it would be. After spending their first night in Texarkana (yuck), Ben and Maddi continued on to Murfreesboro, AK where they stopped at Crater of Diamonds State Park (can you see where this is going?), a decommissioned diamond mine where you can dig through 37.5 acres of plowed dirt to try to find diamonds. They chose a solitary spot and dug together until Ben went a few yards away and started digging in a new spot. After a little while he called Maddi over to see what he found... and when she walked over he turned around, on one knee, with the diamond he just "found". After a sweet profession of his love, Maddi reminded Ben that he still hadn't actually asked her to marry him. But of course, once he asked, she said yes. Thanks to this beautiful moment and all of our other amazing adeventures in Arkansas, we decided they should change their state motto to "Arkansas - Better than You'd Expect".