"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future", Jeremiah Shawn first contacted me on December 31, 2022, and so our story begins. We both were not expecting each other but we know that the Lord had plans for our future together. We chatted for hours over the next two weeks before we met in person. As Shawn will share, it was the most intense interview process that he had ever gone through. So, we did this thing and took a leap of faith. We believe wholeheartedly that we have been given another chance to find happiness, by the Grace of God! Our hopes and desires for our marriage is to build a solid foundation by following the Fruits of the Spirit; "love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control". Shawn and I quickly became friends, confidants and realized that we both had so much in common. Indeed, we are blessed, we both sense peace in our relationship. Our values and principles align, and for the rest of our days we hope to honor each other as husband and wife. We both are quite social, at times feel like teenagers, and find joy and happiness in the smallest of things. We are both in our mature years, and we have learned not to sweat the small stuff. We even enjoy each other’s sarcasm and sense of humor. Our hope is to remain open minded while experiencing life together. We both enjoy traveling, hosting family and friends, trying different foods and watching Jack Ryan. We find peace and joy attending church together. In the Spring of 2024, we will honeymoon in Hawaii. Indeed, we feel blessed and honored that each of you will be present to witness "Our Marriage" and the first day of our new lives together as husband & wife.

I shared with Shawn, how much I enjoy one of Raleigh's hidden gems. This treasure is the beautiful Sunflower field that blooms every year at Dorothea Dix Park. Since moving to Raleigh in 2018, this has become one of my favorite annual traditions, which I have enjoyed alone, with friends and with my granddaughter "Evy". To my surprise on Saturday 7/22/2023, at approximately 3:45pm, at the Dorothea Dix Park, Shawn opened a bottle of "Dom Perignon" Champagne, then dropped to one knee, asking me for my hand in marriage and to walk together as one in Christ. We were surrounded by a field of Sunflowers. I was lost for words, tears of joy trickled down my cheeks. I said "YES", and we toasted with " I love you" and we enjoyed our champagne! It was quite magical. We both knew our Lord had a plan for us, we just didn't know that this would be our story. By trusting in HIM, our engagement, our marriage, and our future is secure.