We swiped RIGHT! We were both on the Tinder app. Rick caught my eye and so I read his bio. I was looking for: someone who was romantic, honest, enjoys adventure... I swiped right and heard that DING when it was a match! My heart leaped. “He likes me, too” I was thrilled! We chatted through the app for awhile and then I gave him my phone number. We texted back and forth A LOT. Before we met in person, I asked him how would I know that he was real and not catfishing me. He sent me a photograph of a rainbow trout!! Thus proving that he wasn’t a catfish...he was a much better fish! We talked on the phone and planned to meet. I wanted it to be before he went on vacation with his family for his birthday because I didnt want him to meet anyone else...I really liked him and I was hoping that he liked me too, without sounding too juvenile! Right before we physically met, he sent me a photo of an envelope with his address on it...as well as his baptismal certificate so Michelle would know where to find me if something bad happened!! Our first date/meeting was at American Pie where he had a pineapple ham and jalapeño pizza and I ate a muffaletta. I remember that we sat on the same side of the bench seat...I asked if he wanted to face the tv because golf was on and he chose to sit next to me, AWWW! We now ALWAYS sit side by side, as a matter of fact. As he was finishing his pizza, he offered the last slice to me, which made me feel like Lady & the Tramp...but I was too “ladylike” and refused politely, however, secretly wanting that slice of pizza! We then wanted to go for a walk and went to The Big Dam Bridge at sunset. It was breezy and cool...as we headed back down, we were still chatting so we sat on a bench and this LARGE spider crawls right by our toes (I had on cute sandals so my toes were open game to creepy crawly things)...I jump and Rick said, “I’m just glad I didn’t scream like a girl”! He makes life fun! It was meant to be, baby it was meant to be!
The proposal went down on Christmas morning in 2017. I told my parents that we had a new member to the family and sent them a picture of the ring. Of course, my mom was SO excited that she told me that she would NOT be able to contain herself and keep the secret over Christmas... I better drop a knee before we get to Perryton or else! I planted the ring in Lisa's stocking after the kids had left that morning (ie. stockings were hung by the fireplace in the living room). Before we were completely loaded up for the travel to Perryton that morning, I suggested we open our stockings prior to the 9 hour road trip. Lisa was still picking up, and cleaning prior to us leaving... She grabbed her stocking on the move... In my mind, she would open it next to the Christmas Tree and Fireplace (not a bad setting) BUT the girl did NOT slow down... she was going through the stocking and walking around the house leaving me guessing when should would get to the MAIN EVENT... I almost grabbed her and had her sit down or at the least, stay in the living room! But, it didn't work out that way, she moved to the kitchen and keep opening items, talking and cleaning as she went. I followed and waited until she got to the last item in the stocking... she reached in, I grabbed a knee and in front of the oven, in the kitchen and asked this girl to be mine forever!