Call it a modern love story! After years of looking for "the one" amongst groups of friends, while trying new hobbies and at various social functions, Justin and I found each other on eHarmony. After using the dating website for several months, Justin was about to move on to another site while I had just joined eHarmony. If I had signed-up just one week later, we would have missed each other!

My "about me" section on my dating profile seemed to check-off all of Justin's boxes for his "perfect person" so he sent me a message. In that first message Justin used some of his high school French and asked about my beloved cat, Izzo. I was sold! After messaging for a couple of weeks, we decided to meet in person.

For our first date, Justin and I met at Hopcat in East Lansing. Conversation was flowing so easily that after dinner, we moved-on to dessert at Beggar's Banquet. When the restaurant closed at midnight, we still weren't ready to say goodnight. We joked about heading to Rick's, the grungy bar of our college days, which was right next door. What started as a joke turned into the third and final stop on our first date. We had drinks at the bar while chatting into the night. Almost two years later and we still haven't run out of things to talk about!

For Memorial Day Weekend 2018, Justin and I headed to Traverse City to run the Bayshore 10k, drink lots of wine and to celebrate my birthday. Little did I know that he had another surprise in store for me.

Friday, the evening before the race, Justin and I went to pick-up our race shirts and bibs. Afterwards, we drove the race course so I could get a feel for what I would be running the next day. The Bayshore races stretch up and down the Old Mission Peninsula with beautiful views of the water along the way.

At the three mile mark (the halfway point for the 10k), Justin pointed-out a private lookout point over the water. He asked if I wanted to take a look and I, not suspecting a thing, agreed.

While standing on the dock, Justin took my hands and told me how much he loves me. It was only when he was halfway down to his knee while fumbling in his pocket that I realized what was happening. Justin asked me to marry him with a beautiful diamond in a rose gold setting that he helped to design. The ring sat in my Great Grandma Winnie's engagement ring box. Of course I said "yes!"

After lots of hugging and happy crying, Justin and I returned to solid ground to put the ring on my shaking finger. We then returned to our rental condo where my parents were waiting with sparkling rosé and wedding magazines to celebrate.