It was November 10, 2018 when my roommate Stacy dragged me out of the house. It was cold outside, I had a 5:45 am flight the next morning, and I just did not feel like being in a loud bar. We got inside and Stacy + I did a couple of the line dances, but I soon found my spot against the wall on the dance floor and was pretty content there. Then in walks HIM. I noticed him right away because he had on a flannel + jeans and was tall! He walked in and immediately danced his way through the dance floor. I remember telling Stacy how cute he was and I just couldn't stop looking at him. He looked like he was in his own little world and didn't care or notice anyone. I kept telling Stacy "that guy just looks like so much fun, I just want to know him!" I didn't think he had saw me at all and soon I was just ready to leave. I let Stacy know, and she started to get her purse. At that same moment this guy came over and spun me around the dance floor. He was singing all the lyrics to this song I didn't know and I was just so surprised he had noticed me and (finally) made a move. We talked about all things right there in the bar for the next 2 hours and I could just tell he was genuine and seemed to have his life together, which I was not expecting. We said goodbye and I really thought I'd never see him again. He was attractive and tall, and (as far as I could tell) loved Jesus, he was fun to be around as he just attracted people to him naturally with his smile and demeanor. I was glad I got the chance to meet him that night, but little did I know he'd soon become one of my biggest blessings.

Ever since meeting Caroline at Westbound I was determined to meet her again in a more intimate setting where I could actually get to know her. After much texting back and forth we finally decided to met up on Sunday, December 9th. After going to the morning service at her church together we made our way over to the Frothy Monkey for brunch. However, little did she know that I had planned some "entertainment" for this date. After we finished our meal I pulled a Jenga box out of my backpack with questions on the bottom of each individual piece. The questions ranged from "Colgate or crest?" to "most embarrassing moment?" to "crocs or flip flops?". This whole thing went over much better than I could have ever anticipated and 3 hours later we had played multiple games of Jenga and gone through every single question. At the end of the date she asked to take home the Jenga set and write her own questions on the other side. This set up the second date very nicely.... So finally when it came time to propose to her I knew I wanted to somehow incorporate Jenga. I decided that I would build a big Jenga set out of 2x4's and would have the ring inside one of the pieces. When she came down for to visit me upon graduation of Airborne School I had the new Jenga set all ready to go! I had arranged it all in the backyard of some friends from church and staged a hidden photographer in the house. I asked her if she wanted to play the game of giant Jenga with me and on her very first move she picked out the piece with the ring! We never finished the game, but in her words "we both won."