The year is 2020. We are in a nationwide lockdown due to covid. At the time, Mat is living with his brother working from home and playing a lot of video games. Lindsey is with Max and Louis furloughed from work and refusing to go to Montgomery. Fast foward to May, Lindsey is able to go back to work and feeling pretty good...So what does that mean? It's time to fire up the dating apps again! We met on Hinge in May, chatted for a couple weeks, and then Mat finally man'd up and asked Lindsey on an actual in person date! Our first date was at a bar/restaurant called Five. We were talking, snacking, drinking, overall vibing and then the night took an unexpected turn when Mat took a call from his brother in the middle of our date. Next thing I know, we move the date to Avondale to meet up with his brother , Sam, and his date. To my confusion, Mat and Sam were wearing the same outfit! Side note from Mat: He wants everyone to know that this was not by design and that he and Sam are the exact same person and did not coordinate their fits. After Avondale, we carry this dating app party to the bar across the street where we played shuffleboard and ordered Taco Bell for dinner. Overall, the first date was a lot of fun. We started talking every day after that and went on a 2nd date after the Memorial weekend. The rest is history!

So, you read how we met and it's clear that we are meant to be. You would think that I (Mat) would hurry and "lock it down" as quickly as possible. Well originally I was going to make this happen at the end of 2022, but all things happen for a reason. So, anyone who knows Libby knows that she has been waiting for this event for about ~38 years. During Christmas 2021, Libby got custom t-shirts made for us as a "gift." . Lindsey's t-shirt said " 2022 is our year" and my t-shirt said " 2022 or else". Funny and loved but I am not the one to set ultimatums with. So what do I do? I plan the proposal for January 1, 2023. However, with the best surprise, some loved ones got engaged at the end of 2022. To not take away from their spotlight I decided to postpone the proposal. The right time isn't clicking until we are on our way back from Montgomery at the beginning of the year. I text Big Jim to set plans for lunch later that week to ask permission to marry his daughter. *Shout out to Big Jim for being sneaky because I wanted this to be a surprise to Libby as well.* Big Jim does his thing and my plan is set in motion. Secretly, I have bought decorations to ask the big question. Set the scene- I discreetly took a day off from work to set everything up. Lindsey worked a long day and was excited to get some crawfish for dinner that night! When she pulled up to the house she refused to park even though I was standing in the middle of garage asking her to come inside. I had to tell a little white lie about her Valentine's Day gift coming early. Hangry and annoyed, she put the vehicle in park and take her into the den! BOOM! Candles, flowers, all the decorations and a nice speech. Lindsey was shocked and may have cursed a little. The boys had been shut in our room upstairs and were very happy to be let out but they trampled over the flower made of rose petals hence the pictures looking a bit skewed. Obviously Lindsey said yes and here we are!