Billy and I met when I was 19 and he was 21. Ironically, we both worked at Kroger and ran into one another when he was filling in for someone at my store while they were on vacation. We remained Facebook friends for a year and a half until he posted on the site that he was looking for someone to walk his newly adopted German Shepherd, Kita. Being a dog-lover and looking to make some extra cash, I messaged him about the job. We met the next day at a dog park where he introduced me to his new pup and asked to discuss details about the position over dinner the next night. After getting home from the dog park, I told my mom after she asked how my so called "interview" went, "I think I have a date tomorrow night?” The next night, he picked me up for dinner and ice cream and needless to say, details about walking his dog weren’t discussed!

For years, I have wanted to go to the East Peoria's Festival of Lights around Christmas due to my love for the sparkling lights. With that being said, when Billy's best friend, Dakota asked us to go with him and his wife, I jumped at the chance! We planned on getting pictures at the end next to the nutcracker light display (which is ironically my favorite play to watch around Christmas). So, while we were walking over to the nutcracker light display, Billy asked me to turn around and turned on his own light display in the festival that lit up and said, "Will you marry me?" I was so shocked and caught off guard that I told him, "Look! Someone is proposing to their girlfriend!" After realizing that it was MY boyfriend proposing, I said yes and we proceeded to grab dinner at a local bar. Little did I know, Billy organized to have all of our friends and family to meet us at the bar and celebrate! It was truly the most magical night I have ever experienced!