In February of 2024, we both matched on the Facebook dating site. When I saw Joel's profile, I thought "this man is way out of my league," but I took a chance anyways and swiped right. I was pleasantly surprised when Joel also swiped right and sent me a message. We talked for a little while on Facebook, then on May 19, 2024, we set our official first date. Joel suggested getting a Braum's milkshake and going for a walk in the park. When I pulled up and saw him in his little green truck, I instantly felt the attraction. We got our milkshakes and headed over to the Nichol's Hill park and went for a walk around the whole park. We talked for almost an hour before we got back to the cars. Neither one of us seemed to want to leave, we both kept coming up with reasons to stay and continue talking. When I left that date, I was hoping that Joel would want to go on another date. I couldn't wait and sent him a message that night about how much I enjoyed our date and hoped we could do it again. On June 26, 2024, Joel took me for a walk around the kid's lake and told me how much I meant to him and asked me to officially be his girlfriend, it was one of the best walks we have had. Fast forward to December 14, 2024, Joel took Aurora and I on a vacation. We walked up a rather large mountain and he was showing me the horizon line when I turned around, he was down on one knee with a beautiful Beauty and the Beast inspired engagement ring. I did not even let him ask me to marry him before I said yes. It was the most special moment of the year, especially because he made sure that Aurora was there during the whole thing.

This is the story of how Mattie & I met.

It started when we found each other on Facebook Dating. Our first date was getting ice cream at Braum's and walking the trails at Nichols Hills. When I first saw her, I knew there was something special about her. She took my breath away the day we met & continues too every day since. After we spent more time together, I took her to my secret fishing place that I haven't showed anyone before while the sun was going down, I told her how I felt about her & we went official June 26, 2024. I gave her a photo album & we filled it with photos we took on our dates. On the back of the pictures was a note to her of how much she means to me. I knew I wanted to marry her & start a family with her so on a trip in December to my family's cattle ranch, I asked her daughter, Aurora, how she felt about that & she was very excited. All three of us went on a walk up a mountain & at the top of the mountain I proposed to her. We are both excited for this chapter of our family & can't wait for all the fun adventures ahead.