It all started with a car.

Typical right?!

It was May 2018 & I (Taylor) had just started my new job at Mclane. Making small talk with a coworker, I was saying how I was having car problems and wished I knew someone who could help. My coworker stated he "had a guy". About a week later I was in contact with said guy. Little did I know, he was my future husband! After about a week of communicating and trying to set up a time to have my car looked at, we agreed on a time and day for me to bring it over. It took all of maybe 15 minutes for AJ to tell me I was crazy, and there was nothing wrong with my car. Seeing as I knew nothing at the time, but being my witty, sassy self I couldn't just leave it at that. I stated he didn't know what he was talking about, and maybe I should take it to a "real shop". AJ appreciated my banter, and we hit it off! We exchanged text for a few weeks after the initial meeting. One night after work AJ invited me to his favorite hole in the wall bar for some drinks, and a game of pool. I was already pretty interested at this point so I accepted his invitation, and met up with him! We lightly bullied each other & flirted back and forth all night. Which if you are unaware gentle bullying is my love language. Next thing we know, we are spending every second together. AJ wanted to take things slow. As for me, that's not how I roll. After a few months of dating and a handful of delicious meals I cooked for him, he made it official. September 14th 2018 AJ asked me to be his Girlfriend, and without hesitation I said YES. Over time he seemed to be accumulating more, and more stuff at my apartment. Little by little we were living together after about 11 months of dating. In June of 2019 we decided to gamble on each other and purchase our first home together! Crazy, we know. It was such a rollercoaster for the both of us. We made a great team making it OUR home. Hosting all the get-togethers, holidays, and birthdays we could imagine. It was just the two of us, living our best lives. That is until I went and adopted our two dogs Chief & Rufus. AJ told me for months when I would ask about getting a dog, that "its not the right time" or "no". Well I chose to ask for forgiveness, instead of permission! In December 2019, AJ came home from work to meet our new babies! Shocked, angry, confused are just a few words to describe how he took the surprise! Not even three days later, they were all best buds. He reminds me all the time how lucky we got, because they truly are the best dogs. Then 2020 happened. We all know Covid, and the lockdowns took a toll on everyone. We made the best of it! Our relationship deepened, from spending more time together. We really just enjoyed being home, with our new little family! After the pandemic, we decided to list our home for sale. The market was going crazy, and we knew it was the perfect time. So 2021 we sold our first home & purchased our second. Again, crazy right? What kind of person makes huge financial decisions like that, with someone they're not married to?! Not once, but twice. We do. AJ and I have always had a very unique relationship. It just works. We compliment one another in a fashion that is unlike most. We believe in one another, and always support each other. Over the next two years we took trips, new jobs, and all sorts of different obstacles on together as a team. From being asked , and hearing about 200 times "when are you going to propose" to "she wont wait forever" he made the move. Saturday September 16th 2023 AJ asked me to be his wife. Two days after our five year anniversary, he FINALLY asked! Whenever we talked about marriage, he always told me id never know it was happening. Ha, me not know something? Sure. My investigation skills are scary! Or so I thought. Well I'll have you all know, I was wrong. It was a normal Saturday, we had dinner plans with AJs parents that evening. I was upset because I wanted to celebrate our anniversary just the two of us, and have dinner with them another night. I was under the impression that AJ simply did not see an issue with his parents joining us, in celebrating our anniversary. Annoyed, and being my brat like self all day I mentioned canceling. Eventually I sucked it up, and said whatever. We were going to be having dinner at Mancy's, so we got all dressed up! Getting ready AJ asked me what he should wear. My response was "a nice pair of jeans, & a button up". He comes out of the bedroom in slacks, and a button up. I tell him I think he's over dressed, and just put on some jeans! The man was pressed on wearing those slacks. He wouldn't listen to me, and eventually I gave up. Pick your battles, right? He then comes out of the laundry room with the iron. AJ, with an iron.....I thought nothing of it. Here I am thinking I could be on the FBI's Payroll, and I wasn't even the slightest bit suspicious. Looking back now, ALL the signs were there. So we leave for dinner & on the way stop at Kroger to grab his mom flowers and a card. It was her birthday earlier that week. I stayed in the car while AJ ran in, I was still being a brat. We arrive to the Hancock Hotel, Mancy's is located inside the hotel. AJ parks the car, and we head in. As we are walking into the lobby there is beautiful flowers that I was distracted by. "Honey! look how pretty these are!" he ignores me and greets his parents who are waiting in the lobby for us. Jim & Phyllis were dressed to the nines. While waiting for AJ to finish saying hello, so I could also greet & hug them I tell them both how sharp they look. I hug Jim and then hug Phyllis who had just sat down her bouquet of flowers behind me. She points behind me and said "Taylor what's that?' Me being the smartass I am, I say "your flowers? duh!" she said no and points farther to the right. I turn around, and there's AJ down on one Knee! "Honey, will you be my wife?"

My soul left my body. I was in shock for the first minute or so. The first time in my 30 years of life, I was speechless. After a few moments in typical Taylor fashion, I managed to get out four words. "Shut the F up". Yep, that was my response. After 5 years my dream had came true, and that's what rolled out of my mouth. No surprise, everyone laughed. In the moment I had forgot to answer, and hugged him. I then apologized for being such a menace all day. Laughing, AJ said it was okay & said welll? Oh my gosh, YES. We spent the evening celebrating our engagement with his parents, and our close friend who was there to capture the moment on camera! It was truly such a surprise & we couldn't be happier. AJ and I are so excited to start planning our wedding, and working as a team on this next chapter of our lives! It was worth the wait.

#WaitedToBeAWillard