Heather's captivating beauty caught my attention the first time I saw her at a small group gathering at her apartment. I tried to play it cool and casually ask her friends, "So what's her deal?" Alas, the timing wasn't right for either of us, so we simply started a friendship. Over the years, that friendship blossomed into a place where I knew I was in love with Heather, until finally, on July 11th of 2019, I asked her to be my girlfriend with a poem I had written for her: "Hazel eyes shimmer so longing Mine I would they were belonging Her laugh so full of joy and pure Days without it I cannot endure A touch so sweet my skin can taste Time spent in her absence I count as waste My dear, beloved, Heather: O, how I would that you were mine O, how I would that I was thine Be with me now, tomorrow, and after So our lives may be filled with love and laughter"

After a lovely year filled with road trips, bible studies, movie nights, prayer meetings, serving in ministry together, cheese, and yes…COVID-19, we both found a spiritual peace to move forward with making this a “forever” thing. So, I hatched up a plan for a group travel weekend to Ocean City, Maryland for “my birthday” (it was my birthday weekend, but the motive for the getaway was an epic proposal). There is no one in this world that I treasure more than Heather. I decided to make that the theme of the engagement and put together a treasure chest filled with tokens of memory from our past adventures and other cherished moments. Beneath all the treasure pieces was the engagement ring, which arrived a little too close for my comfort to our departure date (WON’T HE DO IT?!) With the help of my pastor and his wife, we led Heather to believe we’d all go down to the beach early in the morning for family photos, and that I’d go ahead to “secure a spot” (all of which was technically true, just with vital details omitted). I buried the treasure chest according to the hand drawn map I had put together for the proposal, and eagerly awaited Heather's arrival. She arrived, surprised and delighted. We looked over the map and made our way to the buried chest, marked by a black heart in the sand. After digging up the chest and showing her how much she means to me, I asked if she'd give me the honor of letting me treasure her forever as my wife, and she said, "Yes!" "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Luke 12:34