A week after Gracie returned from her mission in Brazil, she visited a friend in North Carolina. During a weekend beach trip with a group of friends, she met Ryan—and the connection was instant. Gracie thought he was the funniest, most kind-hearted guy she had ever met, and she appreciated his muscles and Ryan thought she was the most beautiful, giggly, kind, and weirdest person he had ever met. What started as weekend visits between Virginia and North Carolina soon turned into something deeper. Little by little, they both realized that what they had was more than just a fun connection—it was the beginning of something really special.

It was a day that felt like a beautiful replay of our first date, yet with an excitement that made it all the more special. My fiancé took me back to Pullen Park, where we first met, and we revisited the places that had shaped our journey together. We walked around, rode the train, and reflected on the memories we had created, all while I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was different today. In fact, knowing a proposal might be on the horizon, I’d even painted my nails in the parking lot—just in case! As we walked along a familiar path, everything seemed normal until we reached a picturesque bridge overlooking the park pond. Normally, he would lift my hand and spin me, but this time he grew silent. When he gently moved my hand, I thought he was about to twirl me, but instead, he stopped and hugged me. And then, with a grin, I blurted out, “Oh no, are you doing it now?” (even though I already knew and had been WAITING). In that moment, he got down on one knee and asked the question I had been waiting for. After that, we celebrated at the same restaurant where we’d had our first date, a perfect way to mark the start of our next chapter.