Paul and I met and became friends in the Student Center at Auburn University in spring of 2017. After "studying" (aka sitting and having real conversations) together practically everyday for two weeks, he asked me if I would date him! Following me saying yes, he asked for my dad's number so he could ask his permission. My dad said yes and Paul and I went on our first proper date three weeks later. On our first date we went swing dancing and then to Waffle House where we proceeded to talk for another two hours. Fast forward to May 2018 - Paul and I had been dating for over a year and we had discussed marriage and knew that was what we wanted. It was down to a question of "when". I was completely unsuspecting of anything when Paul asked me on a date for the end of finals week, because he was about to Texas for A YEAR. The plan for our date was to go to the Davis Arboretum around 3 and then walk around for a while before going to dinner at 5. Due to some unforeseen circumstances, we wound up being almost two hours late getting to the arboretum. Once there Paul led me to a bench beside a waterfall where he proceeded to kneel and hand me rocks to throw into the water. After doing this several times, he finally pulled out the ring and asked me to marry him. Obviously, I was ecstatic and said yes! Following the proposal, I looked over and saw a camera poking up out of the bushes where our dear friend had been hiding waiting for us for over two hours. Shortly after, we went to dinner and then, to my confusion, we returned to the Arboretum where a surprise engagement party was waiting for us! Many of our church family and friends were there to celebrate us and pray over us and our future marriage and really did such a lovely job of loving us and encouraging us in our decision to do life together. All that to say, God is so good and faithful to provide this good gift of marriage and I am excited to celebrate it with all of you!