Summer of 2015, both Paul and I had made some big decisions about staying in little old Yucaipa, instead of moving to Georgia (Paul) and Kuai'i (Aubree). Neither one of us knew what God had planned for us at this time, but man did He surprise us! After returning from vacation in Alaska, I got a call from the worship leader at a church in Yucaipa asking me to help lead their Sunday service that week. I said yes and went in totally unexpecting to meet my future husband! The team asked me if I wanted to see their new children's building that had just been remodeled. Low and behold upon walking in this building I met Paul, a loud ginger with a huge beard!!! (I always said I would NEVER date anyone with a beard.....) Cheesy as it sounds, I really think we both saw something special in each other from that first hello. A few weeks later, at a high school worship night I went back to lead, Paul threw a glow stick to me from the audience onto the stage! And I totally caught it! It was a great moment for me and..... oh wait..... I didn't catch that glow stick in front of all those people??? Typical Aubree. After that moment, we talked all night and Paul asked me for me number, which I gave him a little too eagerly. I'm so glad he made that call..... :)
We had plans to meet some friends and family out at a resort in Palm Springs for the weekend, plans to leave at 3:00pm... But 5:50am came around and so did Paul. To my house. At 5:50am. That's in the morning... That's too early for Aubree... It's a good thing I love him! He convinced me to get out of bed and open the front door, something I was reluctant to do. I need my sleep. He then said we needed to take our puppy Oliver (Valentines Day gift 2017!) to the vet. After that he took me out to breakfast, and then to get some fancy shmancy donuts after! He seemed very chipper, but I just figured he was a morning person so this must be how a morning person is at 5:50am... After he took me home and let me get ready for the weekend and pack. THEN he was supposed to pick me up at 3:00pm... but he showed up at 12:00pm, looking very handsome I might add. He told me we were getting dinner up on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway (Where he asked me to be his girlfriend, November 7, 2016) I freaked out realizing I didn't have ANYTHING to wear (every girls problem) but alas he has a plan for that too! We went shopping at the outlet malls in Cabazon, found the perfect dress, and proceeded up the mountain. Once we got to the top we had dinner reservations and a fantastic meal! Then, we started heading down the mountain to meet with our friends at the resort. But first, we decided to go take a look at the view. He led me up some stairs that went higher than we had gone last time opening up to a beautiful area on the top of the mountain. Perfect moment. He gets down on his knee, and asks me to be his WIFE. As soon as I say "YES!" Clapping and screams come from around the corner where some friends were hiding! We proceeded to have a photoshoot up on the mountain top in the sunset just minutes after he proposed! As we drove down the mountain I realized how much he had actually planned and walked into the resort to find friends and family waiting for us! He did good.