Our Story -

My Story

When I first created this blog, I was in the height of my single woman searching for herself phase. I had been beat down by school, friends, boys, and life and I was looking for an escape. My self-esteem was lacking, my grades were struggling, and I was barely holding onto myself.

And then, I started writing a few things here and there to give myself a pep talk. Things I shared publicly and many things I still keep private. I simply had to find a way to fall in love with myself, my life, and God again. I had fallen away from who I was. Eventually, I found myself accepting my flaws, my quirks, and my needs as they were and building up my confidence back to who I wanted to be.

Suddenly, I didn’t need other people’s approval. I didn’t care to spend time with people who did not bring me joy and I reconnected with God on a deeper level. I was ending my Senior year semester at Miami completely different from how I had started it. I was stronger and more determined than ever to make my life what I knew it could be.

Our Story

In the mix of all this – Brandon showed up. He had been there in the background for months as just another employee of the apartment complex. Then, when he moved into my territory and was front and center – I noticed him. He was kind. He was funny. He found ME funny – which to this day I still find a miracle. We spent a few slow days together working the office together and just fell into a pattern of comfort. I blurted out to him that I was saving myself for marriage approximately two days after officially meeting. We discussed politics, specifically one debate that a year later I learned HE DIDN’T EVEN WATCH but just used as a way to talk to me.

Prior to meeting Brandon, I decided I would add his phone number to my phone from the employee directory. In the past I had never down anything like that – but my subconscious decided it was a good idea. I then added him on Snapchat – also something I had literally never done. So once we started the conversation in person, I made his life easier and had already done the dirty work to steal his phone number. We joke I stalked him into loving me (also not convinced that isn’t true…)

A disastrous trip down South, a few weeks apart, and perfect first date – we fell into a routine of comfort and love with ease. We spent the first few weeks of our relationship in my parents relationship small group class that discussed Dr. Emerson Eggerichs Love and Respect – something I strongly attribute to our success as a couple still to this day. Discussions of marriage came easily but not without serious discussion and thought.

I graduated, found a job close to home and we thought we would stay local. God had other plans as his dream job post graduation will be in Indianapolis. Discussions of marriage quickly turned into action and we had decisions to make. Unlike most proposals, I knew it was coming soon.

The Proposal

The six of us – my parents, Bailey, Abby, and Brandon all had plans to go to New York City for a long weekend in April. I had myself convinced that he would propose there – because the timing was perfect. Weeks prior, however, he had me fully convinced that he was NOT going to do it there. It was cliché. He didn’t have the ring yet. I would be disappointed. I let myself fall to his ploys as he convince my gullible self that it was not going to happen.

We arrived into New York on a Friday afternoon greeted by Fray – the best driver/tour guide/life advice man we met on the trip. He decided that we were going to drop our things off at the hotel and then he was going to drop us off at Times Square. Sure, no big deal. Apparently, however, it WAS a big deal. Brandon obviously had plans to propose in Times Square – but at night and after we had time to settle in. Once we dropped our bags (and engagement ring included) at the hotel, Fray dropped us of a Times Square.

Hours later we found ourselves back in Times Square. Since we had been there earlier in the day, any inkling of a proposal was off my radar. I was in tourist mode, just ready to see the sights. A photo set up by my sister, a collaborative ploy by everyone to make sure my outfit was good – and he managed to surprise me with a sentiment that I hadn’t thought would come that trip.

We spent the rest of the night starry-eyed and cheesy in love. We both didn’t care what else we did that night. I look back now, and I can still remember the feeling. Here was this guy that I barely knew two years ago kneeling down ready to spend the rest of his life with my crazy self. He is everything I needed at exactly the right time and has brought so much joy and laughter to my life that I couldn’t imagine loving any one else.