It was always you.

I knew who Ryan was because of a mutual friend (shout-out Reed Fischer) that I had classes with freshman year. We never talked before, but I definitely kept an eye on him. Sophomore year, I got a job in the Student Services Offices at Drake. Ryan came in to pick up his first paycheck and it was packed. I realized it was him and instantly got a little nervous and maybe turned tomato red. I had to ask his name (even though I might have already known ;)) and then he was out the door. It was a risky move (Ryan might call it a "stalker" move), but I added him on Facebook later that day. Then what do you know, Ryan messaged me that day and the rest is history. Thank goodness for part-time college jobs and picking up (much needed) paychecks.

Naples has always been a place Julia has cherished. It wasn't just a vacation spot, it was home to her Grandparents and memories of times on the beach with her family. Luckily, I was able to go on a vacation to Naples with Julia and from that first moment off of the plane I knew this is where I was going to propose. Fast forward to February 15th, the only people that new the importance of this day so far were my family, Julia's step father, Terry, and my roommates from college. Knowing Therese and I share a love for running, I used our morning run as the moment I would ask her for Julia's hand in marriage. It is one thing to decide Julia is who I want to spend the rest of my life with, but it is another to run a few miles with a diamond ring in your pocket. Those nerves would not go away. I then would go on waiting until sunset, spending the day with Julia's family by the pool. Once it was time to head to the beach for sunset I knew I would let Julia get ready by herself while I quickly got ready and call her grandparents and best friends. Any one that knows me knows I cannot keep a secret. To keep the biggest secret of my life from my best friends was the hardest thing in the world. Or at least it was until we made it to the beach. Over the course of the day I was very nervous. This caused me to consume a large amount of water. Well what goes in must come out. Unfortunately for me this feeling came about 2 minutes before sunset. I was able to christen the back steps of a mansion overlooking the beach just in time to make it to the shoreline to ask my best friend to spend the rest of her life with me. I was visibly nervous, as can be seen in the video, and very impatient. I am known to have a stutter, especially when nervous, but somehow I was able to say everything I wanted to say. I told Julia how beautiful the sunset was and how beautiful she is inside and out. From there you could say the rest is history. I made the biggest, no, BEST decision in my life.