We're getting married!

During college orientation at UTSA I first met him through a friend. He was already on campus for summer football camp, and something about his energy drew me in. There was this easy persona about him, the way he was so nonchalant, and when we started talking, conversation flowed, and he was a natural listening ear. I knew right away that he was someone I wanted to have in my life. What started as an simple friendship became the foundation of something so much more beautiful. We stayed friends throughout college, sharing laughs, late-night conversations, and all those unforgettable campus memories. Then senior year arrived, and something shifted. Some say it had been there the whole time, while well deny it, I think it was God's timing and maybe we both grew into who we were meant to be, and needed that push to continue growing closer. From that moment on, we've been teaching each other love along the way.

Halen isn't the type to write poetry or plan elaborate romantic gestures – that's just not his style. But when it truly matters, when the moment calls for something special, he comes through in the most thoughtful ways. And our proposal day was proof of exactly that. He planned an entire day that was literally walking through the story of 'us'. Being the nature lover that he is, and knowing how much I adore beautiful things, he chose the Japanese Tea Garden as our engagement spot. But this wasn't just about a pretty location – he mapped out a journey of our relationship, taking me to each place that marked a milestone in our love story. He took me to the exact place on the UTSA campus where we first met during orientation so many years ago, to the spot where we had our very first date, and the location of our first apartment together. Each stop was a chapter in our story, and with each one, I could feel the weight of all our shared memories and the love that had grown between us. By the time we reached the final spot – I was already emotional. Standing there in this beautiful place, everything was clear, a true full circle moment. When he got down on one knee, I was completely overwhelmed. It wasn't just the proposal; it was the way he had honored our entire time together. It was a perfect reflection of who we are as a couple and how far we've come from those two college kids who come from two very different places but somehow became intertwined. The absolute perfect proposal from the most perfect man.