10 years can sneak up on you. At least that’s what it did for Marissa and I. Feels like not long ago at a Lewis University Baseball house party we first crossed paths. The interest was always there, but we were occupied getting our feet under us in a new school and shortly thereafter, new careers following graduation. We met some great people in our time at school and I’m sure thankful we did for many reasons, but it helped keep us together. We often crossed paths and said hello with a flirtatious wink, but timing is everything, and our time was soon to come… Our corny title comes into play as it was the Tuesday before Christmas in 2015 when I received a message. Marissa had cousins in town and she asked me to help her show them around Chicago. A country girl from Rockton, IL relocated to Chicago needed my help. Though I was unable to wrangle up our friends, I still wanted to see her and help. That night however, became less about being a tour guide and became a night to remember. We did what came naturally and we effortlessly fell in sync. And from that point forward, we were never the same. We became inseparable and did everything together. We went on dates, had casual nights in, hung out with our friends, we cooked for each other (mostly her), and experienced the Cubs win the World Series with no destination in sight. The journey was the prize and it gave new meaning to life going through these life experiences together as partners. The way I feel when we are together, there was not much to decide, I knew we were meant to be and one day I’d make her my wife to start our own family…

Our proposal was like one out of the story books. Andrew planned the most perfect surprise that I will never forget. He combined our love for family, friends and romance into one unforgettable night. Three years and three days after he asked me to be his girlfriend, he got down on one knee in front of our best friends and families and asked me to spend forever with him. Thank you for being a part of our fairytale.