We're getting married!

Jared and I met at a “girls only” Valentine’s Day party. He walked in, bypassing the table full of girls to show his dad his new sleeping bag. My sister yelled out, “Jared come eat with us. When will you get another chance to sit with a table full of girls?” He sat at the end of the table and started to talk about TV shows. He tried one of my vegan brownies for dessert. I asked him, “Do you always talk so much?” After dinner, all the girls watched a movie upstairs. Afterwards Lydia and I needed to quickly head out since I had to work early in the morning. I walked downstairs and into the living room where Jared was watching a movie. I asked where their library was. Jared pointed towards the doors. I walked in and was immediately impressed. Their little library was beautiful! To my delight Jared followed me in. We talked for several minutes before Renae and Lydia joined us. I felt comfortable, weirdly at home. Eventually, Lydia reminded me that we were leaving. On the drive home I asked Lydia, “Why don’t you date Jared?” She laughed and said that would never work out. She proceeded to say, “Why don’t you date him?” I laughed even more and said, “He’s seven years older than me!”

Jared took me to the Dallas Arboretum. It was a beautiful day and the garden was packed. We started walking the perimeter and found some mulberry trees. Delighted, I started to eat the berries. They were all bitter! I started to walk on, but Jared pulled me back. Secluded by the trees, Jared bent down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I said, “Yes!” We're so excited to celebrate this next chapter in our lives with you. See you in 2018!