We're getting married!

We met through the most modern way ever- he slid up in my DMs... several different times, haha. We both were at UAB at the same time, followed each other on Instagram, and had a lot of mutual friends, but somehow never bumped into each other. I was not looking for a relationship at the time and was in my "healing girl era", but something told me to respond (finally). Now I know it was God telling me this was my lifelong partner and I was about to lose my chance. We were messaging back and forth during Thanksgiving of that year and his family was in town. We happened to both be at the UAB game that weekend and I wanted to meet him in person there, but was getting the vibe that he didn't want to meet up. I was a little bummed, of course. Now I know he didn't want to meet up because he started having stomach virus symptoms at the game (he didn't tell me that at the time), haha. We kept talking and finally he asked to take me out to dinner one night. He made reservations at Bettola in downtown Birmingham. It was a Wednesday night on December 15th, 2021. I remember feeling so nervous because I had not been on a date in a while. He picked me up in his BMW and was waiting for me with the passenger door open. I felt so many butterflies in my stomach and felt like the walk towards him was a mile long. We hugged and both had smiles that went from one ear to the other. We were planning on going to Queen's Park for the Miracle Christmas pop-up, but the line was its typical sidewalk length during that time. I remember it being so cold and we decided to instead head to the restaurant a little early. We get there, have a few drinks at the bar, then get seated at out table right by the entrance window. Our conversations were ongoing the whole entire night. There was never that awkward pause of silence like people typically have during first dates. Our connection was instant. We both shared the same values, similar upbringings, hobbies, interests. The more we talked the more I kept thinking in my head "this is the man I am going to marry. " I felt it in my soul. I had never had this indescribable feeling before, and honestly was a little afraid of the feeling. Dinner was over, but we didn't want the night to end. I had work early the next day, but all that mattered in that moment was being there with him. We moved to another bar to continue our night until it was past midnight. He dropped me off at my apartment, hugged me and told me goodnight. I remember walking into my apartment building and my eyes filled with tears as I whispered to myself "thank you God for showing me the right way." We became official that next year on 04/30/22 and got engaged on 03/27/24 at the most beautiful park in Denver, CO. Our love gets better as the years go by. He has made me a better person and has taught me so many things. I am so thankful for this amazing man and I can not wait to spend the rest of my life by his side traveling, eating, laughing, crying, running, and all of the fun this we enjoy doing. And most importantly loving him unconditionally.