Nate and I officially met during freshman orientation at Birmingham Southern College, but we knew of each other prior to that week because our roommates were dating at the time, and they connected us. We quickly became friends and spent much of freshman orientation together, as we were in the same group. After continuously telling my mom that I was absolutely not dating anyone my freshman year of college, I soon began telling her I would not be dating anyone first semester of college. Fast forward two months to October 2018, and Nate and I were officially dating.

During our gap year, Nate worked in the operating room as a scrub tech and I pursued a master’s degree, while we were both working towards achieving our professional goals of attending medical school and dental school respectively. After many long study days and many, many prayers, Nate and I found out that we would both be attending UAB for our respective careers.

Nate first brought up the topic of marriage in college, and we agreed that we were on the same page, but we were too young at the time. He was persistent to say the least and never let the topic die. When we found out we would both be in Birmingham for the next four years, the conversations regarding marriage became much more serious.

I always said I wanted to be surprised for my proposal, but I always thought that there would come a time that I would know it was happening (news flash…I did NOT see it coming). Nearing the end of our spring semester of our first year in professional school, talk began about the “boyfriends” attending the annual Savage Family Ski Trip. This was a huge deal because no one had ever infiltrated the family trips before. I was excited to share my love of skiing with Nate as he had never skied before. Nate began talking of this lake he found near where we would be in Montana, and I was confused why he would want to go there, but I get it, it is his first ski trip, and he was excited. Fast forward to December 17, and Nate and I were on the way to see the lake he had been talking about for literally months before meeting the rest of my family for dinner. My feelings were hurt because I kept offering for my family to come to the lake with us, and everyone kept saying no…little did I know what was coming.

Nate proposed at the lake with the mountains in the back, and he told me he chose this place to propose because he knows two of my all-time favorite things are the lake and the mountains. I was completely caught off guard with my black beanie and leggings on, but it was perfect, and to this day I am still impressed that he pulled it off without me knowing. We grabbed a drink to celebrate and debrief all the planning that he had done, and we met my family for dinner to celebrate (reservations that I made but did not know what they were really for at the time). Credit to my mom for her table scaping skills!

I met Nate when I was 17 years old, and seven years later, we are entering the next phase of our lives, and I could not be more excited!