The countdown until our forever is on.

Hi everyone! Sam here. Thanks for visiting our site! We wanted to give you all a picture of how we met and how it was for both of us when we began. Enjoy! Thanks to the persistence of our mutual friends (dynamic duo and partners in crime Hannah Geelhart and Johnny Guemple), I was persuaded to go to Meredith College’s Spring Formal as Kayla’s date. Not that I was completely against going with her; I just was more interested in spending my weekend playing video games when they first brought up the idea of going. But a little internal nudge that said “why not go” changed my mind, and so I got all spiffy so that I could be the best date for this girl’s last formal. With that said, I initially had no intention of trying to win Kayla over. When I left for the dance that night, I had no interest in a relationship. It was merely a way to get out, have some fun with friends, and meet someone new. By the end of the night, however, I knew I had to ask her out. Kayla is kind, serene, and has a sense of humor that was refreshing to see and hear, and there was something about her that just clicked for me. The next morning, I asked her out on a date at a local coffee shop, and what was expected to be a hour or so turned into four hours as we got coffee and tea, walked around a nearby pond, and walked around downtown Apex, NC as we talked about life, our interests, and so much more. It was on this date, and on the ones following, that I discovered her optimistic character, her peerless determination, and her heart for the people that she cares for. Over the past two years or so that we’ve been together, I’ve always been encouraged, in awe, and humbled by those attributes of hers. Kayla is an incredible woman, and marrying her is going down as one of the best things I have ever done. I’m lucky to be hers.

One year and 9 months later, Sam got down on one knee and asked me to marry him! The end. Just kidding! I told Sam I would share how he proposed from my perspective. Here goes… On a chilly Sunday in January, Sam and I planned to spend the afternoon together walking around the North Carolina Museum of Art. Little did I know, he had quite a plan up his sleeves! I had some schoolwork to do before I could meet Sam, so I quickly got that done before I got ready. While I was getting ready, I suddenly thought to myself, “Would Sam propose today?!” I quickly dismissed the thought, thinking there was no way he would do it so soon. After I had gotten ready, I drove over to Sam’s. Once I arrived, he asked me to help him pick an outfit to wear and we decided on something that would match mine (we think it’s fun to coordinate our outfits sometimes). As we left for the art museum, I had that thought again…”Would Sam propose today?”. Out of curiosity, I decided to search for my sister, Amanda’s, location (I figured he wouldn’t propose unless my family was in town so we could celebrate after). I saw that she was still in Charlotte, so I convinced myself that there was NO WAY Sam was proposing today and that I didn’t need to get my hopes up, so that I could enjoy our time together with no expectations. After arriving at the art museum, we wandered through the outdoor exhibits for a little bit. We ended up in the trees and we stopped to talk. Sam reached for my hand and began to tell me how much I meant to him. He told me that with everything going on in the world, with all the uncertainty, there was one thing he was certain of: spending the rest of his life with ME. Sam got down on one knee and pulled a ring out of his pocket. He asked me to marry him, and I (in total shock that this was ACTUALLY happening) said, YES!!! I absolutely cannot WAIT to marry Sam! He is thoughtful, gentle, and supportive. Spending the rest of my life with him will be the sweetest gift.