We're getting married!

For the July 4th weekend, Derek and I were planning on going to San Antonio to see some friends. I asked our friends to go to dinner with us on July 3rd before we headed to the lake for the 4th. They told me we were going to a brewery and to wear a cute outfit so we could take pictures. Derek was jittery and quiet the whole drive and I didn’t know why at the time. When we arrived at the brewery, I saw the massive oak tree with lanterns and flowers under it. When we stepped out of the car, Derek had the box and some letters in his hands and I instantly was in shock, I couldn’t believe it was finally happening. I was smiling from ear to ear, I couldn’t contain my happiness. He had written letters from the past week of him planning everything. They were so thoughtful and sincere. After he read day 1 & day 7 letters to me, he grabbed my hands and the ring box. He talked about our journey from being neighbors in college to a mature lifelong relationship fully invested in the Lord. Then he got down on one knee and asked me if I would be the love of his life forever and marry him. I said yes about a thousand times and did a little happy dance. To top it all off, Derek had invited my friends and family to the celebration. After he proposed, we heard roaring screams from the brewery to congratulate us. My friends and family had decorated the whole place and brought food and drinks. I was so overjoyed and so blessed to have such an amazing support system there to witness such an important moment in Derek and I’s life. I also can’t thank Derek enough for putting so much thought and heart into the proposal. It was such a magical, perfect day that I will cherish forever.

I got the ring less than a week from the day I proposed. I knew I couldn’t sit on it so I had to make it happen. I gathered the planning troops (Tarryn’s amazing friends) and started the process. It was a long week of hiding and lying to Tarryn about certain things, and the process was even tougher when my family is in on it too. But it was all for good reason. I wanted her to be totally surprised and turns out she was. I can’t say I’ve ever had a gut wrenching moment, but when we were pulling into the brewery I couldn’t even think straight, and I had a full blown case of cottonmouth. The adrenaline was flowing, but it was only because I knew I was about to make the best decision of my life by asking Tarryn to marry me. I couldn't express the joy I was feeling walking Tarryn down the hill, and her saying “Oh my gosh…are you serious right now…” I was smiling ear to ear and that ring was burning a whole in my pocket, I was so ready to just put it on her finger. This may sound like the most perfect proposal, but being myself as I started to get down on one knee I kicked one of the lanterns with my boot (everyone was watching), but that's really the reason why it ended up perfect. It's a short snippet of our relationship. Tarryn always looks so beautiful and innocent, and I’m just the goofy guy that gets to call her mine. It was an evening I will never forget. Full of family and friends. It was a memory that will last a lifetime. Blessed to have her as my fiance and soon to be wife, and excited to create a lifetime of memories with our families and friends.