The first thing I noticed about Josh was his big goofy smile and captivating bright blue eyes. Our first date was filled with laughter and endless conversations as we explored some of my favorite places in Richmond and watched our very first sunset together. As we continued to grow our relationship, we talked about our goals and ambitions. We also bonded over our love for nature and spending time outdoors and found that we shared a similar vision for our future. Before we knew it (or were ready for it!), it was time for me to move to New York City to pursue my doctorate at my dream optometry school. While I was away, I recognized how much Josh truly cared for me; he constantly supported me through my goals and found sweet ways to encourage me when things got tough. In my last year of school, Josh moved to Arizona to pursue his aspiration of becoming an architect. When I graduated, I got accepted into my ideal residency program in Tucson and it felt like the stars were finally aligning. This was my time to support his dreams, and finally time for us to live in the same city for the very first time.

When Puja finally moved to Tucson it felt like the universe was giving us a sign. This was something we waited for and worked towards for so long that it felt unbelievable. A few months after she moved to Arizona, I knew things felt right and wanted to do something really special for us. We decided to take a trip to San Diego. One of the many things I love about Puja is her attention to detail. I decided to let her plan the details of our trip, from site seeing to our dinners. I just had one condition: at least one sunset on the Pacific ocean. Little did she know that I packed an engagement ring that I had been holding onto for months. By letting her plan the majority of the trip, she was clueless to my plan to propose. On our second night there, by chance we ended up on a secluded beach with the most perfect view of the setting sun. I pushed play on the perfect song for the moment and pulled out the ring from one pocket and a letter from another. I read my promises to her and asked her the most important question of my life. Will you marry me? With tears pouring down her face she said...Of Course! The rest is history.