We’re getting married!

As I’m sure you all already know, Steven and I met in Oahu, Hawaii. In 2016 I went on what was supposed to be a two week vacation to visit my sister. During that time, my sister and I continuously spoke about me not going back home to NM. On the day I was supposed to leave I was so torn between staying and leaving. My entire life was back NM. I prayed for a sign. Long story short, when I got to the airport my gate was already closed, I was unable to check in, and I missed my flight. Now I don’t know about you, but I’m a “that was a sign” kind of person 100%. Why wouldn’t I take that as a sign. I explained to my parents, my boss, and my best friend that I wasn’t coming back. I made arrangements on moving all my stuff out of my apartment in Albuquerque and into storage (shout out to Mendey, my Dad, and my cousin Bryan for making it happen). I completely started over. I found a job at an orthodontics office and literally rebuilt my wardrobe from scratch. Two and a half months later I met the man I will soon get to call my husband. Although we had an extremely bumpy start and spent almost a year and a half apart, we managed to find our way back to each other just in time for Jase’s first birthday. They say what’s meant to be will always find its way. That is now something I truly believe. To Shannon and Ricky: Thank you both for giving me the opportunity to meet the man I plan on spending the rest of my life with. If it weren’t for you both, I wouldn’t have the family that I do now.

I used to think about how the man I would spend my life with would propose to me. The way Steven did it was something I could have never imagined. It was perfect. He exceeded my expectations by far. I expected to spend Christmas apart; Steven in Hawaii while Jase and I were in New Mexico. He told me he was unable to take leave so close to him getting out of the military. On Christmas Eve, my entire family wore christmas pajamas and met up at my dads house for pictures. I even facetimed him so he could be in the picture with Jase and I. Before everyone left my dad sat me down in front of the TV and told me, “This is from Steven.” A video/slideshow that he made started playing. It was 12 reasons why he loved me. As each reason was named a member of my family walked up and handed me a red rose. At the end of the video, only 11 reasons had been named. Steven then said (on the video) that my dad was going to have the honor of telling me the 12th reason. I turned around to face my dad and Pam. My dad said they were saving the best for last and then both stepped aside. There he was, standing there with a vase full of white roses. After we both cried a little bit, he began to express his love for me and then bent down on one knee and asked me to marry him. It was one of the best nights of my life. I wouldn’t change a single thing about the way he asked. Including my entire family was everything to me.