We're engaged!!!! The love of my life, Shawn McDaniel, proposed while we were in Kentucky for my dad's birthday. He worked so hard and planned so much to be able to surprise me, and it worked! After taking a family photo at my dad's birthday party, I turned around to see Shawn on one knee. I was totally shocked, and so excited that I said yes about four times before he could actually get the full question out. Shawn bought the most beautiful ring (I had sent him a few ideas and he picked my favorite one!!) but it got lost in the mail and didn't arrive before we left for the trip! In order to keep the surprise plans intact, my parents lent him their original wedding bands from their wedding 38 years ago... so I got to wear my parents wedding bands all afternoon the day we got engaged. It was the sweetest surprise, and a beautiful day. The ring was safely in his mailbox when we arrived back in Dallas, and he sweetly proposed again (with the real ring this time). I love it - it's perfect and even more beautiful than I expected! The etched sunburst design comes from what he told me as we talked about our future while dating, and what he repeated in front of my family when he proposed: "I would follow you into the sunset." I feel like the luckiest girl in the whole world!! Ready for an FAQ?? • We met online in July 2021! We were both on the dating app Hinge. • Shawn is a middle school teacher! He teaches Bible and History at his school and is adored by his students. It is VERY cute. This year, I transitioned to full time creative freelancing in Dallas after eight years on the creative communications staff at a local church! • We've both spent some time with each others families and have loved getting to know everyone! I have been warmly welcomed and loved by Shawn's family in Plano and St. Louis, and watching Shawn get to know and love my family on our visits to Kentucky has been one of the sweetest joys of my life. • While we both live in Dallas and have family and friends here in Texas, we also have a lot of family back in St. Louis, MO, and Louisville, KY, so we are traveling back to Kentucky for our wedding in June 2023. We are very excited and thankful to plan our life together!!