Meeting Clay felt like fate.

We both worked for Vans, in two different states. It happened that we both were store managers in the same district. We got paired for a topic on our conference calls, although I'm not sure that Clay knows I actually got to choose what and who I would be paired with. I didn't hear the majority of the rest of those calls. I was typically somewhere between texting Clay and being suddenly a lot more nervous to talk about my part. The first thing I noticed about Clay, before I ever got the chance to talk to him, was how passionate he was about people. It doesn't take much to see how much value he gives others and what a difference he was able to make.

Looking back at that time and all the small decisions in our lives that led us up to being in the positions we were to meet each other, I know it was all in God's plan.

I have to admit, Clay didn't have all that much game, which somehow made me more drawn to him. Clay’s version of flirting was, “you could hang a sign that said ‘clay ask me out’ and I would assume there is another Clay on the street.” I made the first move, even though in Clay's version he will claim it was him. I actually invited myself to a baseball game with him, which is his idea of making the first move. We didn’t make it to that baseball game until over a year later. Now we catch every Tuesday game - accompanied with 2 hot dogs, nachos, popcorn and the largest coke youve ever seen. Talk about date night.

Eventually in March we were able to match up an off day and make a move to meet “half-way” in Chattanooga (pretty sure I drove way farther but look at us now, getting married. Worth it.) . I spent the whole drive sending super nervous texts and summoning the courage to get out of the car. Once we finally made it and met each other on the sidewalk we were almost too nervous and excited to speak to each other. I grabbed his hand and walked into the place he had picked which ended up just being a sports bar with a few bowling lanes, which is now our favorite spot. We got lucky when they stuck us in a closet (literally a closet with seating - I guess the hostess noticed we didn’t fit in with the college kid crowd). That would end up being the same booth Clay asked me to marry him in. We spent around 4 hours in that booth on our first date. We talked about anything and everything. We laughed and we cried - and we tipped the waitress quite a bit.

Every day I have had the privilege of falling more in love with Clay’s heart and mind, but I have to admit he was easy to fall for. His kindness has no boundaries. His mind is so unique and beautiful - seeing the beauty and value in the things that others take advantage of or never even notice. He loves everyone around him, without judgment and always with pure intentions. He has an ability to make others feel valued and understood. I feel lucky just to know Clay, and blessed is an understatement as I become his wife.

Can't wait to continue this journey as Husband and Wife.

Cheers to forever!

Haley

How I fell in love with Haley

We both worked at Vans as Store Managers. Haley worked in Georgia and I worked in Tennessee. Before this love story started it almost didn't happen. A month or two before our 1st date, I almost left Vans to work for another company. For some reason at the last minute I turned down the position because something didn't feel right to make the move. Looking back at my life the reasons why were answered on March 2nd. God's plan is one of beauty and one of trust that the path you are on is to get the greatest gift and that was meeting Haley. I call her my light and to understand that would be a story in itself, but back to how I fell in love in with Haley on our first date and how it all happened. Working at Vans we have zoom calls we have to get on once a week and each week I hoped she would be on them. Everyone that has met Haley often says she has this beautiful energy and her eyes makes you feel something different. She has this authentic ability to make you feel value and your words mean something. We got paired together to speak on each call so this opened up an opportunity to have more dialogue and just to get know her. On one call and she will dispute it but I low key ask her out by simply saying "I wish this call would end so I can order Tennessee Vols baseball tickets." Haley said she would go to a game with me right after that and I was completely blown away. I think I followed up with "Are you sure?". So technically I ask her out but she has a different angle! Either way I was so nervous after that and the crazy scenario is we never made to a Tennessee game until this year which we called it our first date part two.

So on Thursday March 2nd of last year we had our first date and met in Chattanooga. I was so nervous and the anticipation of meeting Haley for the 1st time knowing I was already crushing on her through conversations made this night even more anxious. When we both stated "headed that way" all I wanted was this to be the best night ever and hope that if we hit it off time would slow down. When I drove by her truck and circled back around my heart jumped and just seeing her brought the biggest smile to my face. We hugged each other and walked across the street and as soon as we went in I thought I picked the wrong spot. It was a sports bar with bowling, different games and loudness. We got lucky and the host put us in the private booth that was interesting to say the least but it was the beginning of the best night ever. People say love at first sight doesn't happen but I fell in love with Haley that night. We talked, we laughed and we cried as we got to know each other. I remember getting emotional about my life and she grabbed my hand and smiled. At that point I knew she was different and every wall I had up crumbled. One year later we went back to our booth and I proposed to the best person I've ever met.

I always said there were two love stories I got to witness in my life, my Mom and Dad and Rocky and Adrian Balboa. One was real and the other made for movies but his time I got my love story. Each day I get with Haley I now understand the why's in life. To know Haley is to know she deeply cares for those around her. She sacrifices her time to make sure others feel value and people feel their purpose is ok. Each morning I wake up and she is my first gratitude, my first thank you to God for sending this beautiful mind and heart. Haley gave me hope again, she gave me strength to want to get better and be myself. The biggest love and sacrifice she gave was moving up to Tennessee to help care for my dad and help my mom. Without hesitation she moved her entire life for us. To come up stairs and watch her work puzzles with mom and dad without asking just showcases her love for people and wanting to bring a smile to everyone. That was just one of many examples would do for my parents. All my dad wanted before he passed away in March was to make sure I found someone to love me for me and he got to witness it before God called him home. Haley stood by me when he took his last breath and has given me a shoulder to cry many times after that. So getting to spend the rest of our lives together and fall in love with each other more each day is a understanding of the why's in life and the beautiful path we are on. One that I'm truly thankful for and I can't wait to officially be Haley's husband.

My Beautiful Light

My Bestfriend

My Partner

Our Love Story still has many chapters to be written.

Paris Clayton Ruth, Jr