For starters, everyone asks... yes we met on a dating app :) and are thankful that experience is over!

Clay and I had our first date April of 2023, we took an afternoon walk through the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. One of Clay's favorite places in Birmingham, and a place that holds many special memories for me. We stayed talked until we were kicked out at closing time. I had rubbed a terrible blister into both my feet by wearing new shoes. Clay without hesitation offered to piggyback me all the way to my car. I politely declined due to not wanting to become a public spectacle. However this kind gesture was one truth I learned about Clay that day, he wholeheartedly loves helping and serving others.

Over the next few months we explored our shared love for outdoors activities together. Almost all of our dates revolved around hiking, camping and kayaking. We discovered some of the most beautiful places around Alabama, while also discovering the beauty inside each other. Dating someone in residency is no joke, but we sat down and meticulously scheduled out making the most of every week. Clay even survived coming to an Alexander family reunion at the farm.

Near the end of summer, Clay took a medical missions trip to Africa. With both of our hectic schedules, we found we were going to be apart from each other for over a month. We in stride changed our pace and transitioned our dates to handwritten notes and planned out phone calls.

Once reunited, we did not skip a beat. We jumped back where we left off and planned more outdoors adventures. Our fall was full of more travel, but finally together. Even Scooter (my pup) got to tag along, and we found he keeps up with Clay's pace more than my own! During our trips I got to meet Clay's family, cousins and even spend our 6-month anniversary in Memphis together during one of Clay's residency rotation. We ended our fall taking a few long walks on the beach during a Pugh family mini vacation.

As we started to discuss our future, we reminisced that we could see God in very moment of our relationship. Clay and I have so many differences, but we seem to fit together so well in the areas that matter. Our love for God, family, friends and adventure. As well as a passion for serving others by being called to work in the medical field. As the months continued on, many prayers about the future were prayed, and we decided we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together. Creating our new adventure, and seeing what God has in store for us.

All I asked for in a proposal was to be surprised. Knowing Clay's forte is not being sneaky, I was a little skeptical! After a hectic week of work before Christmas, Clay asked me on a hike. We always find time for a hike so this was not out of the normal for a Saturday afternoon. He surprised me by taking me to one of the only waterfalls that still had water flowing after a dry December. It was a beautiful hike around Mardis Mill with no one else around. As we were sitting watching the water cascade down the rocks, I could feel Clay's heartrate skyrocket, abnormal for an avid marathon runner. But something told me not to ask him about it. Just moments later he got down on one knee and recited a handwritten poem asking me to marry him. It was the easiest "Yes!" of my life. We then got to share a couple of hours together, before surprise number two. As we drove to my parents house that night to go on our regular "Sol Aztecca" dinner night, I noticed our neighborhood was full of cars. And our house was full of sweet friends and family ready to celebrate with us. I doubted Clay could dupe me, but he pulled off the best surprise engagement yet!

We cannot wait to spend the rest of our life finding new adventures together!

See the photos below for some of our sweet memories we have shared during our relationship!

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