"Boys are stupid" was the mindset I was in for a long time. I never thought I would date again, but deep down I knew that wasn't what I truly wanted, so I began praying about it. A little while after attending the wedding of a family friend who met their spouse on Facebook dating I decided to give it a try. After matching on Facebook Dating, we started talking fairly regularly, it was great how much we had in common and how much we thought alike. One day Nolan asked me if I would like to talk over the phone. I agreed, and we set a date to meet up for the first time. I was honestly kinda worried, maybe this guy is too perfect, we had the same intentions for dating, and our beliefs lined up pretty much exactly. Well... Except for the fact that Nolan doesn't like country music *gasp* Needless to say, it went great. Our first date (the first time we met in person) was at Jon Stiff Dog Park. We spent three hours walking around talking. I scared my best friend, my Maid of Honor, to death because I didn't answer my phone, to the point she called my mom to check on me- who I also did not answer my phone for- in my defense it was in my bag, not in my pocket (Sorry Memree & Mom!). It wasn't long after that we started spending time together almost daily. I quickly realized what an answered prayer he was, and how head-over-heals, in love, I was for him. In mid-December, My family, Mer's good friend, and Nolan & I went to Avatar: Way of the Water. After which Nolan asked my parents for their blessing. I thought I was supposed to "get lost" but Nolan ended up asking me to stay. One thing about my dad is he likes to talk... and boy did he talk. Having "chapters" to his speech, but long story short they gave us their blessing. Then it became a waiting game... I didn't know when he was going to ask, but I knew it was coming at some point. One time when Nolan pulled his keys out of his pocket and something tinked on the ground outside. I went to pick it up and realized it was a ring (not the ring). I had a mini panic attack because I didn't know if I should pick it up or not, Nolan then had to explain... He borrowed my companion ring for my class ring from my mom to get my size, and that is what fell out of his pocket. He would make remarks like "I have something I want to tell you, but I don't think I should." At one point Nolan finally told me that he was having issues getting the ring in. So it brought a little bit of relief to the waiting game. Then on Nolan's birthday, we went out to eat with his parents. When Martha asked us what we were going to do after we left Nolan stated "We're going to the dog park." then turned to me "I guess if that's ok." Normally we don't have set plans, it's a game of "what do you want to do?" followed by "I don't know, what do you want to do?" so it was a little strange that he just said that (but clueless Madison didn't think anything of it). Of course, I was ok with it, so we went back to his house to get his dogs. Once at the dog park, we let the dogs play, and walked around the dog park. Nolan said he wanted to video something. He threw the ball for Miss P and asked me to wait where I was. He walked over to P. and was messing with her (I thought he was trying to get the ball from her). After a few seconds, he told her to go get me. She enthusiastically ran over to me (as is her normal). I was confused as to what I was supposed to do, as Nolan had already started videoing. But he said, "I think there is something on your dog!" I looked down to see a new tag on her collar, it took me a second to get it off (She wanted me to throw the ball for her, so she was very excited). When I read the tag it said "Will you marry me" I turned toward Nolan, and he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. Of course, I said yes! As well as shed a few happy tears. I am so thankful that God has brought us together, and there is no doubt in my mind that Nolan is the one for me.

It started out in a seedy part of the internet, somewhere the locals called Facebook dating. There was the usual crowd, your players in one corner, those looking to hurt your heart in another, but through the mass of profiles, I saw her. She had reddish hair, a killer smile, and a golden retriever at her hip looking to rip to shreds the first guy who spoke to her. I made my way over to her, my overcoat almost catching on a chair, and said what's a doll like you doing here? She just smiled and gave me the sort of look that I knew I’d be dreaming about for days. I did dream about it for days, and what pleasant days they were. The conversation between us was natural and actually about something. We found out that our values aligned and that we could go on talking forever. We decided to meet at a neutral spot, somewhere open without too many cops or gangsters. I pulled up with some backup, a couple of dogs who were more loyal than they were smart, but hey they’re pretty cute. She arrived a little bit later with her own backup, the dog with the killer look, and we really hit it off, talking so long that the Maid of Honor wanted to send out a search party. From there it snowballed, spending time with each other, getting to know each other more deeply, and deciding we had a future together. It took longer than it should have to get the ring in, but hey that's what you get you buy from a guy who just got out of the pen for robbery. When I took her back to the park to ask her and she said yes, well that's one mystery this old detective intends to spend the rest of his life solving.