Before our first date, we were texting while Erik was at a Dodger's playoff game. Sam was "watching the game" with her girls, and Erik was overjoyed that this new girl he has just started talking to was "into baseball". A few days later, we met for our first date. We had our first date at the Spaghetti Factory in Fullerton. We hadn't been talking for very long but it felt like we had known each other for years. After dinner, Sam let Erik take her to Stereoscope Coffee and got lost along the way! Shout out to Stereoscope Coffee. There, they spent several hours listening to Erik talk. Sam had finally found someone who could talk as much as she could. It wasn't until later that evening that Erik realized he had spent the entire date talking about himself, and was afraid he'd scared her off. To his delight, she agreed to a second date. By the end of their third date in Carlsbad, California, both of them knew they had something special brewing.

The morning of Sunday April 28th, 2019 I, Sam, was on my way to brunch with my sister and best friend Amanda in Newport Beach,California. Erik was supposed to be at church retreat in the mountains so I had made plans with the girls. As Amanda drove us down PCH, she makes a sharp turn down a residential road which was not the way to the restaurant. As I frustratedly explained to her she was going the wrong way she shot back that she wanted to see the ocean! So I relented very confused. Then she parked near this lookout spot and I look up to see Erik holding one single rose. Then it hit me! Today was that very special day I had been waiting for all my life. With excited shouts I greeted Erik and he led me to the beach to give me his 'final rose'(for all those bachelor fans out there!). He said the sweetest things to me and promised me love for the rest of my life, then got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife! I shouted yes! My sister, Amanda and Emily (erik's sister) came running down with hugs and tears. After our joyous moment, Erik asked if I'd like to still go to brunch. So we took his car just him and I to a restaurant down the way. As we approached the restaurant, I turned the corner to be greeted by a huge room full of our family and close friends! I began to cry with an overwhelming amount of joy! I hugged every person and thanked them for sharing this day with us. It honestly was one of the most magical days of my life, and now I get to spend forever with my favorite person that I love with all my heart!