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

You & Me