Daniel and I met in 2017 right after I finished my first year in college, and he had just graduated from high school. I started a part-time job at Firehouse Subs and he just so happened to be my shift manager. Don't get it twisted... we couldn't stand each other at first. I thought I hated him for the first two weeks. I thought he was rude, and I told him off. I'm not sure what happened after that, but we became friends.

We were best friends. We worked together all the time, we would text all the time, and we would make excuses to see each other longer after work. However, we were both dating other people. One night, when Daniel went with me to get a tattoo, my boyfriend at the time cancelled plans with me once again. It was the last night that the fair was in town, and I wanted to go very badly. After realizing that I was highly upset, Daniel offered to go with me. After going to the fair, we drove around and talked for hours. That night we realized that we belong together. That was the night that I realized that he was the man I was meant to spend the rest of my life with.

I graduated with my associate degree in fine arts from Spartanburg Methodist College. Daniel (along with my family of course) supported me the entire way. He comforted me when I cried my way through finals, and on the day of graduation, he picked up breakfast for me, drove me to graduation, and brought me flowers. Before Daniel, I had to beg my exes to merely show up to events. As I looked out to see Daniel happily talking to my family as I walked across the stage, I knew I was the luckiest girl in the world.

For the second year in a row, we went to Holly Wild Animal Park to see Christmas lights and Santa's village where he asked me to be his girlfriend in December 2017. He said that he would marry me one day, and jokingly proposed to me with a ring pop. I "accepted" and we posted a picture to SnapChat with the caption "I said yes!!!". Little did I know what would happen the next year in the exact same spot.

We spent the entire day together with mutual friends. Going out to eat, walking around the mall, just having fun. We already had plans to go to Holly Wild Animal park for the third year in a row to see the lights and Santa's village. I suspected NOTHING AT ALL. Daniel was acting weird all day, but insisted nothing was wrong. We walked to the bonfire and a friend of ours asked if we wanted her to take some pictures of us, and we said sure. She began to take pictures, and unbeknownst to me his friend had begun to take a video. Daniel began his speech and soon got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife in the same exact spot that he asked me to be his girlfriend two years earlier. I was so stunned that I couldn't speak, and he had to press me to give him a verbal answer (I obviously said yes). He had been keeping the ring in his jacket pocket the ENTIRE DAY. He had planned this with our families and friends for months, and I was none the wiser!!! I was, and still am, so excited that I am blessed to be with this man for the rest of my life.

In July 2020, Daniel graduated with his Surgical Technology Certificate with all A's! Every day I am reminded of how proud I am of him, how hard he works, and how intelligent he is. He helps save and improve lives all day, I couldn't think of a more fitting job for this selfless, kind, loving man.

We closed on our first home in April 2021. Of course, I don't move in until we are married, but I am ecstatic to make a house a home with the love of my life. Everything is falling into place. We are so blessed.

In May 2021, I graduated from Converse College with a Bachelor's degree in Art Education, and had already gotten a job teaching high school art. Daniel (and my family of course) supported me with each step I took in college. He was my pep talker when I wanted to give up, the shoulder I cried on when I was so stressed I couldn't breathe, and he listened to every complaint throughout clinical placements, student teaching, and certification exams. I would have completely lost my sanity without him. This was the last giant step before we could comfortably get married and enjoy our life together.