DJ and I met in February of 2021 online. Though we met online through some cheesy pick up lines, I know for certain that Jesus ordained our love story happen that way before we were even born. DJ was such a gentleman as he took me to dinner and then to the mountain in Jacksonville where we ate ice cream and talked for about 2 hours. Here is a secret- I knew that night that DJ would be my husband. I even called one of my friends on the way home (the only one I told I was going on a date) and told her I would be marrying David John Rector. DJ had recently graduated the previous December and was still living in Jacksonville while working. I on the other hand was an intern and in the middle of EdTPA. Most would say I was crazy for even thinking of dating until I was done, but hey he was so handsome I just couldn’t wait! We went on our first date and then didn’t see each other or hardly talk for 2 weeks while I finished and submitted EdTPA. DJ was a rockstar through it all. We then started dating and it has been in my opinion the most beautiful and fun journey!

In normal DJ fashion he created the most special and sweet day to propose. I hadn’t had my nails done in a quite some time and I wasn’t going to get them done. DJ was determined that I have my nails done, so they day before he went with me to the nail salon and sat while I had my nails done. On May 22, 2022 DJ picked me up and we went to church like any normal Sunday. After church he told me we were spending the day together. We drove to Gadsden and ate lunch at Kobe, which is where we had dinner on our first date. I was slightly confused why we drove all the way to Gadsden, there are Hibachi restaurants in Trussville near the church. It later made sense. After lunch we got in the car and I asked where we were going and he said “quit asking me questions and just sit there looking pretty”. If you know me at all you know that I like to know all the plans before they happen, so this was slightly difficult for me but I did it. We drove and ended up in Jacksonville. Once we were in Jacksonville I figured we were going to see some of our friends, but once again I was wrong. We start driving up the mountain to the very spot we sat on our first date. DJ played the song “Joy of My Life” by Chris Stapleton which he has been singing to me since very early on in our relationship. Once again I just thought he was being sweet and sentimental like he is. We get to the top and he parks the car and gets out. In all the times we came up here we never got out. He asked me to get out and handed me a beautifully wrapped gift. What I opened was the most beautiful Bible that had “Alyssa Jewel Rector” engraved on the bottom. DJ then got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. I stood in cried in awe that I was going to get to be David John Rector’s wife. It was the easiest question I had ever been asked and I said Yes!! I turned around and my two best friends - Alicen (who was in Kentucky earlier that morning) and Hannah Joy! We took some pictures with my BEAUTIFUL ring - which by the way, the center diamond belonged to my mom!

We left and I thought we were just headed home because it was a technically a school night! We get to my moms house and I kid you not everyone I loved was at my house!! His family, my family, and all of our friends! It was the BEST DAY YET!!