We started working at Our Daily Bread within a month of each other. We hung out a lot with a group of coworkers. Before long, the flirting began and feelings evolved. Our first real date, Zack took me to the Cabarrus County Fair. We shared nauseating rides, crappy food and then he bought me a souvenir t-shirt. I remember the exact moment I fell for him. My roommates and I were having a party. Zack and I sat at the kitchen table playing quarters, laughing. It was as if we were the only ones in the room and I wouldn't have rather been anywhere else. The following party we found ourselves slow dancing on the front porch. After working together, getting a dog together, living together and sharing the same friend group we realized that EVERYTHING was simply better together.

We had just celebrated the marriage of my brother and his wife on Jo's 24th birthday in Asheville. The next day I gave Jo the "pretty woman" treatment and took her shopping. We stopped into a local jeweler that my mother recommended. We both really liked this unique sage diamond ring. That night Jo said, "I like the Sage Ring more than any of the rings I've saved on Pinterest." If you know Jo, Pinterest is what dreams are made of, so I made the call and picked it up the following week. Jo's parents would be coming to visit for the holidays, I knew she'd want them there for the proposal and realized this would be the perfect time. After getting their permission the scheming began. It was so difficult lying to Jo. I was so nervous my appetite was messed up and ya boy likes to eat. On December 16th, while waiting for her parents "delayed flight" I told Jo to come get a drink with me after hours at Our Daily Bread, where it all began. She showed up in true Jo fashion, late, un-showered, wearing a beanie and a flannel. What Jo didn't realize is our parents and some of our closest friends were hiding in the back watching it all go down on the security cameras. I got down on one knee and asked her to spend the rest of her life with me. Which she responded with an ecstatic "Thank You!" Everyone came out to celebrate and we popped champagne. Jo says it was her dream proposal.