December 7, 2019; the day that changed both of our lives, and we will never forget. That day was an ordinary Saturday; I had lunch with my best friends Caleb & Courtney and was planning to put Christmas lights up that afternoon. We were about to leave when Caleb asked if I wanted to join them and his family for dinner at the Bardstown Bourbon Company, and of course - I said yes. I headed home, proceeded to put decorations up until 4. I got ready and headed to meet them in Bardstown, but little did I know, that drive to Bardstown would be a start to an amazing journey.


I was about 10 minutes from Bardstown and my phone rings. It was Caleb and he told me that they were booked up for two weeks, so they were going to look around and find a new place to eat. I parked in Bardstown and waited. Caleb texted me and told hat we were eating at the Rickhouse Restaurant. I had to use GPS, because I had never heard of the restaurant before. Again, little did I know, that GPS was taking me right where I was meant to be.


We arrived at the Rickhouse, again without any reservations, so we were definitely taking a risk - haha! The hostess asked how many were in our party. We responded 6, and she said, Let me check, I have turned away 50 or so people away tonight because of how busy we are. She came back about 5-10 minutes later and said, you all need to play the lottery, because we have one table left and it seats six. We were so excited! She sat us down at our table and little did I know, I would be one table away from my future wife. 


We began our dinner and as we were sitting there, I noticed this beautiful girl across from our table. I kept thinking, I know that girl but can't remember her name or how I know her. Caleb noticed my look and asked, “Do you really know somewhere here too? We are in Bardstown, in a random restaurant!”


Well, time went by and she stood up to step away from the table and she waved at me as she passed me and said hi, with a cute little grin. That smile I will never forget. I waved back and said hello. Our dinner continued on, and I noticed she was leaving and I waved again and said goodbye. 


As I drove home that evening I finally figured out who she was. Surprise surprise, it was Samantha. Samantha was involved in the Elizabethtown Chrysalis community. I knew her but never had a friendship with her.


It turned out that Samantha was there with her coworkers for a company Christmas party. And apparently, she was trying to figure out who I was too. She was being asked by her coworkers, Do you seriously know someone here? You always know someone everywhere we go.


Fast forward to later that evening, I was at home after a big day and just relaxing and thought to myself, I am going to reach out to Samantha. If you truly know me, this is something I never do when it comes to putting myself out there. So I messaged her on Facebook, and said, Hey Sam it was good to see you tonight! You looked so pretty! I know, I am weird, but thank goodness it worked! We continued messaging back and forth for a few days and then, she showed up at Chrysalis Reunion group bible study on a Monday night. We went to Chick Fil A afterwards with some friends and had a great time.


Things kept progressing, and then it happened, I asked her out! Our first date was to Christmas in the Park, her favorite thing to do. We kept spending time together until I finally asked her if she wanted to be official on January 5th, 2020.


As you all know, 2020 will be a year we ALL won't forget, as it brought us COVID-19. But the pandemic also brought good things. It allowed Samantha and I to grow our relationship in a way that wouldn't normally happen with our busy schedules. We were able to have sit down family dinners with both families at a dinner table. Sometimes with takeout, drive thru, left overs or food by the pool. We were able to date and grow together in a time where no one knew what the next day held. All I knew, was as time went on, it didn't matter what the next day held, I wanted Samantha to be in that next day with me, together, for forever.


In our time of dating, we had lunch/dinner dates in my truck, LOTS of Dewsters Ice Cream nights, we have traveled during a pandemic, put on a city wide firework show, led Upward basketball programs, started new jobs, dealt with lots of ups and downs, moved my family to a new home and her family to another state and so many more memories; but in all of those times, I did not want anyone else by my side. I wanted that beautiful girl I met at the Rickhouse on December 7, 2019.


On January 6, 2021, my mom joined me as I picked out the most beautiful ring for her. The process was amazing to be able to personalize everything about her ring. Just like her, each piece of the ring is unique and beautiful in its own way. 465 days after we met, on March 16, 2021, I got down on my knee at the spot we met, the Rickhouse in Bardstown, KY, and I asked Samantha Brooke Blankenship to marry me.


Those 465 days have been nothing but incredible in every way. Samantha, I look forward to our next big day together in OUR BEAUTIFUL STORY.


But to finish this story off, I will say this is not OUR story, this has been the plan of our amazing, perfect, flawless, Lord and Savior hands all along. HIS time and plan is always perfect. Our story is HIS story. Both of us see the true beauty in it. Everyday we draw closer to Jesus and that draws us closer to each other. Samantha, I love you and I can't wait until the day where you and I will say, I do and start our next chapter in our lives.


Written by:
Dustin Shepherd