A & A

Friday, February 28th was a day I’ll never forget. Andrew was in town, and to my surprise, he showed up at my classroom to visit. He spent the last few minutes of the school day hanging out with my students, which was already so special. Before we left, he told me he had date plans for us, watching the sunset at White Tank Mountains followed by a nice dinner. That’s when I started noticing something was a little off...he seemed extra nervous, talking way more than usual. Later, when we went back to my house to get ready, his nerves became even more obvious. He was suddenly very opinionated about what I should wear, practically insisting I dress up and wear a dress. I thought it was funny at the time, but looking back, it all makes sense now! Once we were ready, we headed to the mountains, a place we had recently driven through together and admired. Andrew found a spot to park near a picnic table, and I assumed we’d just sit there and watch the sunset. But instead, he led me off the path, past some desert bushes, to a hidden spot. That’s when I saw it. An aisle lined with framed pictures of us, candles, and lanterns led the way to a beautifully decorated arch. At the base of the arch were my favorite cowboy hat and a pair of Andrew’s boots filled with fresh flowers. As soon as I saw the pictures, I felt the emotions hit me all at once. Tears filled my eyes as memories of our time together came rushing back. At that moment, I knew, I wanted to keep making memories with Andrew forever. We walked to the end of the aisle, and when he turned to face me, I could see the emotion in his eyes. He had planned to say something, but his emotions got the best of him, and all he could manage was, “But this I know I can say... Adrianna, will you marry me?” Through the happy tears, I said yes. We kissed, hugged, and cried together, soaking in the moment. Then, as if the night couldn’t get any better, I turned around and saw our families emerging from behind the bushes, cheering and celebrating with us. It was the sweetest surprise, and I felt so overwhelmed with love. To top it all off, Andrew’s cousin, Morgan, was there to capture every moment, giving us memories we’ll cherish forever. It was truly the most perfect night, and I am beyond grateful to be engaged to my best friend.