july 19, 2025

It all began with a birthday brunch at Roderick’s house. Roderick was a good friend of Brooke’s (Lynessa's cousin and MOH), and this year, he had decided to host a special celebration for her. The house was buzzing with excitement as Roderick, always the gracious host, had gone all out to help make the occasion memorable. The night before the brunch, Roderick and Brooke had invited a few people over his house to help with the decorations. Among them was Lynessa, who was in town visiting for a short break from her med school studies. It was one of those late fall evenings when the warmth of the day lingered into the night, and the atmosphere in Roderick’s house was casual and relaxed. Lynessa arrived wrapped in a cozy blanket, her way of adding a bit of comfort to the bustling preparations. It was clear she was more interested in finding a spot to unwind than in diving straight into the party prep. She barely said more than her name as she walked in, her primary focus on getting to the couch and laying down. She seemed content to take a quiet moment amidst the whirlwind of activity. As the night went on, Lynessa’s calm demeanor stood in contrast to the more animated conversations around her. She didn't seek out attention or engage in the bustling decoration efforts. Instead, she found solace in the comfort of the couch, occasionally joining in the conversation and helping blow up and tie balloons, but mostly enjoying the peaceful rest. The next morning, the brunch was a hit. Lynessa, now more awake and livelier, was a pleasant presence among the guests. It was during this brunch that Rod and Lynessa had the chance to connect. What started as a simple introduction (that was interrupted by Dezmond, Brooke’s brother) turned into a deeper conversation, and from there, something special began to blossom. That day marked the beginning of a journey for both of us. One that started with a quiet moment on a couch and grew into a shared story full of laughter, love, and countless memories. And now, as we look back on that day, it’s clear that the unassuming start was just the beginning of something truly extraordinary.

In the weeks leading up to the big moment, Roderick had been meticulously orchestrating his proposal to Lynessa, with the crucial assistance of her best friend, Brandi. Roderick's plan was elaborate, meant to catch Lynessa completely off guard while also ensuring that the proposal was an unforgettable experience. For almost ten months, Roderick and Brandi had been working in secret. Roderick had chosen the perfect ring. He and Brandi arranged for a magical evening and coordinated with Lynessa’s family and friends to make sure everyone would be there to celebrate. The challenge was keeping the ruse under wraps so that Lynessa wouldn’t suspect a thing. Throughout this period, Roderick had been dropping hints that the engagement ring was facing delays. He spoke of problems with the jeweler, missing diamonds, and other excuses that seemed to stress Lynessa. She had never been super anxious, but these “issues” added to her worries. Little did she know that Roderick’s supposed “crisis” was actually part of his grand plan to surprise her. The night of the proposal arrived. Roderick told Lynessa that they were going out for a special dinner to celebrate his recent job offer in Ohio. She had no idea that this dinner was merely the prelude to an extraordinary surprise. As they approached the restaurant, Lynessa noticed that Roderick seemed unusually nervous. Lynessa admired the romantic gesture of going to dinner, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. She could sense that Roderick was unusually on edge. Instead of utilizing the valet service, Roderick was set on parking almost a whole block away and began to get flustered when the street parking was full. Once they finally found parking, Roderick, once again, took a detour away from the restaurant, and instead headed towards Anderson Pavillion, which Lynessa quickly reminded him, “This isn’t how you get to Ruth’s Chris. I’m the one from Cincinnati.”. Roderick noticed a photographer and videographer and suggested to Lynessa that they should get a picture since they look so nice in their date night attire. Once they stepped into the venue, the music started playing and Lynessa couldn’t believe it. Roderick pulled out the ring and slipped the ring onto her finger and the venue erupted in cheers and applause. Lynessa heard a chorus of familiar voices calling her name from behind her. As she turned around, her family and friends emerged, their faces lit up with joy and excitement. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she realized the extent of Roderick’s planning and the love that had gone into making this moment perfect. Lynessa and Roderick embraced, surrounded by their loved ones, as they celebrated the beginning of their next chapter together. The night was filled with laughter, joy, and the promise of a future made even brighter by the love and support of those who mattered most. We're so excited to celebrate this next chapter in our lives with you. See you in Cincy!