We're Getting Married!

When Sara Beth and I first started talking, I realized she was as mean as a snake. So naturally, I really liked her. Our senses of humor are very similar, and I was sure we would get along if we were ever able to go on a date. I invited her to go to Ranger Ball with me in June of 2022, and she accepted. However, around two weeks later, I learned that I was going to Ranger School. This meant that I wouldn't be able to go to Ranger Ball with her. I told her that I was sorry and that I wouldn't be able to take her to Ranger Ball anymore. She thought I was full of it, and I didn't blame her. The timing was awful. I went to Ranger School for a few months, and when I returned from school, we began talking again. We eventually went on our first date when I went home to Blairsville to visit my family and... I may or may not have lost to her in bowling. After our first date, we quickly became best friends, and I fell madly in love with Sara Elizabeth Hobbs. Over the course of our relationship, I realized that she was the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. I bought her an engagement ring in October of 2024. I planned on waiting for the perfect moment to give it to her. I realized, with my work schedule, that it might be a while before I got the opportunity, so I kept her ring hidden in a drawer until Tuesday, December 17th. Looking back, I definitely could have been a little bit less suspicious leading up to the proposal, but she’s clearly a lot smarter than me. The night I proposed, it was seventy degrees in Savannah, but I wore a thick jacket to help conceal the ring. I took her back to the first restaurant we ate at in Savannah, and we got ice cream from our favorite spot afterward. Throughout the night, I tried to act as normal as possible, but apparently, I failed. After we got our ice cream, we walked to Oglethorpe Park, sat on a bench, and finished our ice cream. As I took our trash to a garbage can nearby, I fumbled trying to get the ring out of my pocket. When I returned to the bench, I got down on one knee and asked her to spend her life with me... Thankfully, she acted surprised and said yes. Later, when I asked if she knew I was going to propose, she replied, “Of course I did.” There is no one else on Earth that I feel as connected with or as close to. I speak for us both when I say that we truly share one brain, and when we are not together, it feels like there is a piece missing. I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with Sara Beth. I thank God we are together.

Although Alec and I didn't go to high school together, he was only one town away, going to Union County High School. I was aware that he existed, but he wasn't necessarily on my radar. It wasn't until April of 2022 that we started talking. At first, it was light-hearted and casual. He was in the Army, living in Savannah, and I was about to start student teaching at the University of North Georgia. How could a relationship start with so much distance between us, right? We talked for about three months, but it came to an end when he left for Ranger School in June. Time went on, I started my senior year of college, and I was neck-deep in student teaching. I didn't have much time to think about anything other than school, work, or family. However, I did think of Alec occasionally, wondering where he was and what he was doing. Thankfully, I didn't have to wonder too long... Alec reached out to me when he got back in Savannah, and I jumped at the opportunity to see him. When he came home for leave, I finally forced him into going on a date with me. We ate Chick-fil-A in his truck, I beat him in bowling, and then we got Dairy Queen. After that night, it was hard to convince myself that it wouldn't work. We went on more dates over our Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks, and I ended up going to Savannah for New Year's Eve. Somewhere between the ball dropping and Ohio State missing the field goal, I realized I was falling in love with Alec Scott. We officially started dating on New Year's Day in 2023. In spite of the distance, Alec quickly became my best friend. Although distance has been a constant in our relationship, I have never been closer to anyone. When Alec was in Columbus, he would sneak pay phone calls on Friday afternoons, and I would send letters detailing every thought I'd had since the last time we spoke. When Alec knew he was being deployed, he made sure to give my parents my Christmas and birthday gifts four months in advance, and I sent his gifts halfway around the world. No matter where Alec was, he always made sure that I could feel his presence in my life. He made sure that I knew I was his priority. Because of his dedication to our relationship, the past two years have been the best of my life, in spite of the distance. I don't remember exactly when I knew that I would marry Alec Scott, but somewhere along the way, I figured it out. He proposed on December 17, 2024 in Oglethorpe Square in Savannah, Georgia. He recreated our first date in Savannah by taking me to Sushi Hana and Ben & Jerry's. I wish I could lie and say I didn't know it was happening, but I did. He asked me what he should wear to go get dinner... come on Alec! Dead giveaway! I speak for the both of us when I say that we are so immensely grateful to each and every person that has supported us and our relationship together. We are so excited to celebrate our marriage with the people we love most in the world! We love you all so very much! Now let's get hitched!!!