One sunny August day in 2014 I was warming up along the back wall of the group fitness classroom for BodyCombat - a cardio kickboxing class. While I was practicing throwing a couple hooks at my reflection in the mirrors across the room, a wild Emily appeared and joined me in the back row. We survived the hour, and I brought her a mat to cool down at the end of class. After the next class two days later, she returned the favor and brought me a mat. Seeing this as a positive sign that she might be interested, I gathered my courage and decided to ask her out the next time we met. She didn't come to class for two weeks. I made peace with the situation, thinking she would never return. Then one day BAM! The wild Emily appeared in gym class AGAIN! It was now or never. Sweaty and exhausted, we lingered outside the locker rooms and I asked her to dinner. Thus began four years of adventure leading up to our engagement. We still enjoy working out together. BodyCombat is obviously our favorite class.

One afternoon, I was feeling particularly grouchy and all I wanted was some ice cream from Kline's. Without hesitation, Marc told me to grab my jacket and get in the car! We got our ice cream fix and decided to go for a walk around Downtown Harrisonburg, as we often do. We ended up at the empty Turner Pavillion. I mentioned, "I remember when we walked down here on our first date." We stopped for a kiss in the center on top of the inlay of the compass. "Wow! Your heart is really beating fast. Are you ok?" I asked unwittingly. Marc then sank down to one knee and asked me to marry him. A stranger in the parking lot cheered from his car as I accepted his proposal! Even the worst, grouchiest days are pretty darn great when we are together.