On July 25, four days before Hayley’s birthday, Mike was in Adoration when he felt the conviction to surprise Hayley in Florida with a proposal on her birthday. He had no ring and no flight. Was this even possible?


Mike began strategizing with Tom and Annemarie. He made a few phone calls and found that the exact ring she wanted (in Colorado) happened to be in stock and they could ship it to arrive by Friday. Minutes later, Mike got off work, booked a flight, and called Hayley’s dad who graciously gave his blessing.


Saturday morning, July 29th, Mike was in Florida, and gave Hayley a birthday call, asking what she was up to that day. She said she was going to stop at the beach. That was not specific enough for Mike. He interrogated, “what beach?” Thanks to Annemarie’s extra interrogations, Mike eventually found Hayley sitting with her mom, secluded on the beach. Mike called out “Hayley” from a stone’s throw away. She turned her head, and her face radiated with a big smile. She walked over in disbelief and gave him a big hug, shocked he had surprised her for her birthday. Mike held her hands, looked into her beautiful eyes and said, “It was six months ago today when we first met…” Hayley realized what was happening and said, “Are you really doing this?” He responded, “Yes. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” Going down on one knee, he said, “Hayley Kathleen, will you marry me?” She nodded her head yes and said, “yes, of course!”