Chip and I met in 2004 working in Coppell ISD when we were part of the first Technology Integration Team - (the I-team) to support digital learning.

We became fast friends and enjoyed many laughs through those two years on the team together. . .he also put up with me and my sassy, southern, stubborn self and I put up with him and his smart aleck, mid-western, stubborn self! Since that time we've had 20 years of friendship!

While our lives went different directions at times through our years as friends, we always made time to get together. . .including Chip being the DJ at several of our dear friends' wedding receptions. . .including mine!

(yep, I said this is a crazy, love story)

Sunday, September 19, 2010 - Chip's Story

If you haven't ever seen the following video, you should watch it as it shows the power of miracles. . .this too is part of our story as it is by the grace of God that Chip is still here on this earth today.

https://youtu.be/h0lgQEO6qp4?si=ySOV1j9OC2hIkhw3

Love these two pictures, as this is the first time we were able to be together with Chip again after his recovery. . .

So, jumping ahead through the years. . .our journey continued going different directions, career changes and relationship changes for me, career changes, location changes - Honduras for Chip, ups and downs along the way, but always remaining friends.

So, you may be asking yourself. . .so how did you guys finally turn this into more than a friendship?

As life does change, and life moves on unexpectedly at times. . .Chip and I both found ourselves single in our 40's. One day we ended up out with friends for happy hour and following the night with karaoke. I of course being me, had moved to the new way of dating with online apps.

We were sitting at our local karaoke bar and Chip looked at me as I was once again frustrated with some loser of a guy who I had been talking to. . .with tears in my eyes I said "why do I always pick the wrong ones?" Then Chip without missing a beat, proceeded to say, "I'm sitting right here. Why exactly are you talking to those idiots online when you've got a perfectly great guy sitting right here?"

I looked at him a bit in surprise, he leaned forward and kissed me, and then hopped up to go sing his next song. Leave it to Chip to drop a bomb like that and then leave me there in shock at the table!

So, within the next few weeks we found ourselves on our first "official date". . .to say I was nervous was an understatement! Needless to say, he came in as always we smiled, laughed, sang to honestly one of the worst cover bands we have ever heard in our lives and still had the best time! Then ended up at oh wait, our local karaoke bar and sang a few songs of our own to end the fun night!

Many more dates, hanging with friends and trips through weeks, months and years. . .

How can I even begin to explain how much of a treasure Hope has been in this journey. . .I have known Hope her entire life, but the last few years have been such a joy for me spending time with her. . .and Chip of course. . .

Many of you know that I have never been blessed with having kids of my own. Therefore I have loved the kids in my life, whether through my roles teaching and working in education, my beautiful nieces/nephew and my wonderful friends and their kiddos. As I started moving from friendship to a relationship with Chip, the biggest thing I wanted to ensure was that Hope felt comfortable with us dating and that she knew how much I wanted to build a strong relationship with her as well.

I am so proud of the young woman she has become and so happy that I get to have her in my life. From road trips, shopping excursions, band concerts, dinners, hanging out to watch movies, college visits and more, I continue to love this beautiful, young woman and I'm so blessed to have her in my life and beyond pleased to have her as my maid of honor for the wedding. . .

Final piece to share of our story. . .our engagement! For those of you who know me well, know that I am not surprised by many things in my life. . .in fact, I really feel that I am pretty observant at least when it comes to surprises. . .this however was not the case!

On this particular occasion, Saturday, June 10th, we had made a plan to take our dear friends, John and Tracy Krantz out to dinner at Bob's in Plano. We wanted to take them as a thank you since they had helped to host Chip's 50th bday party at their house in April.

We met over at their house and made our way to dinner, Chip let me know that Hope also wanted to join us too, which I just figured, well she loves a good steak, so that made sense!

We arrived at Bob's and then Tracy pulls out her phone in the lobby and starts looking at filters on her phone as she is taking selfies and has Chip take a few pics. . .saying she needed a new headshot for Facebook. Me of course looked at the pic it looked great, so I also said take a pic of me Chip! Little did I know Tracy was checking on the lighting for pics for later. . .

Then our table was ready and we headed back to the room. Before sitting down, Tracy and Chip were extra concerned about where everyone would sit for the evening, I'm looking at them like they are crazy, wondering why on earth it mattered if I sat in the corner or between Chip and Hope. . .we finally got seated after a little musical chairs action for our assigned seats.

We had a wonderful dinner and drinks and during the evening and as we were getting ready for dessert all of a sudden Chip says. . ."so, Hope, did you have something to ask Angie?" So, I turn to my left to look at her. She then proceeds to say, "no, Dad, I think you had something to ask her." So, I turn to look at Chip to my right who to me looks like he has fallen out of his chair! (And I was thinking, you really just fell out of your chair, Chip Bloecher!)

So, then I noticed he was down on one knee. . .and he had to say, all right Angie, focus, listen to me. . .

(once again. . . not the best listener in the world). Then he proceeded to tell me how much he loved me, and asked me to marry him. I was in total shock! And, so he had to ask again. :). Then as he did Hope reached across from the left side in front of me with the most beautiful ring ever! Tears of course were rolling down my face as I felt all the love and finally managed to say yes! I look across the table and John was crying too, as later I found out that only Tracy and Hope knew about this, as Chip figured it would be better for it to be a surprise to John as well! :)

It was such a wonderful night and ended it like our first "official date" at our local karoake bar to sing a few tunes and celebrate! Such a fabulous surprise. . .he did good! :)