We're Getting Married!

After 10 Days getting to know each other and eight days of Brad trying to convince me to go on a date, I finally agreed around two pm that day to meet him to hang out. He worked until 6 every day and had to stay late almost every day, but I got off at 5:30 I volunteered to make the fifty-minute drive from Lynchburg to Roanoke to make up for the time difference in our schedules. We agreed to meet at the Walmart in Bonsack, just outside of Roanoke, since I knew little else about the area. I reached the parking lot around 6:30 and let him know I was there. He apologized for the timing and let me know he was just leaving his job then but would be there to pick me up shortly. Brad pulled in the beside me about 15 minutes later to pick me up. While getting into the truck, I remember looking at Brad and asking how his day was. I immediately began fighting a chuckle and thinking, "This poor boy is scared to death." In an attempt to make him more at ease, I made myself comfortable in the seat and asked what he wanted to do. Together we decided dinner was the best option, and he decide on Longhorn. We headed toward the restaurant striking up a conversation on the music playing, and our jobs. Over dinner, we talked about most every aspect of our current lives and very quickly realized how similar we both were. We talked for hours, even simply sitting in his truck talking for hours after leaving the restaurant. He mentioned that night that he had never so quickly and effortlessly connected with anyone else, and I certainly felt the same way. When it came time for us to each head home, I don't think either of us could have imagined making it to where we are now, but I knew for a fact that he would have a large impact on my life. We quickly became almost inseparable going on 4 dates in a timespan of 7 days ending with Brad asking if we can make the relationship "Facebook Official" only a week after our first date. I couldn't Imagine my life having gone any other direction.

I got the ring on January 6th and planned to "pop the big question" around mid-February because that is when April and I had originally gotten together two years ago. Although that was the plan, I honestly couldn't wait that long to ask, so on January 11th I decided that this is the day and planned out what I wanted to do. April arrived home from work, and we decided that we wanted to go get something to eat. After that, we went to Walmart, for no real reason other than to allow me to build up my courage to ask this question that was going to evolve our relationship to a whole new level. Once I had collected myself and built enough courage to ask, we left and set off to go to my family's original church where April and I went to look at the stars in the past. This church was beside a large field and was the destination of choice to see every star you wanted, this church is also where my great grandparents and grandparents are buried. This church was where I went when I was young and was where all of my family went before most of them passed away or got too old to attend. With that being said, this place was very special to me not only for those reasons but because you could also see my grandparents dream home, the one that they built and where I grew up at from the parking lot of this church. It was the spot where all of my family who had passed could get to welcome the love of my life into my family, it was the perfect spot. As we got out of the truck and got our jackets on so that we could be warm as we looked up into the stars and admired how beautiful the world is. I asked April to reach into the truck and get my phone out of the center console. As she did, I got down on one knee and asked the woman of my dreams to marry me, and it was the best moment of the whole relationship. I know that there will be many more to come and I look forward to every one of them. I love you April Dawn!