It only took moving across country for us to start our journey together. We both had just moved to Florida to be closer to our immediate family. I came from Southern California and Kevin from Fountain, Colorado. Since we didn't know anyone besides our parents we both joined a dating app in hopes to make friends and or possibly find that special someone. Kevin came across my profile and sent me the first message. We talked for a few weeks and decided to meet in person, which I was super hesitant about. After finding out that Kevin had already met my parents from playing pickleball, I felt a little more comfortable doing so and extremely happy that I went for it and put myself out there. It was the best decision I ever made besides moving to Florida. I had the BEST date ever. He took me to one of his favorite restaurants along the river called Squid Lips. I had never been before, but have been back about 10 times since we've been together. We had a great conversation during dinner. After he took me to the back of the restaurant to walk the dock and feed the fish. We then went down the river to the SandBar and enjoyed getting to know each other more, laughing, and listening to some live music. I knew then there was something really special about him. Since meeting that first day we found out there were so much we had in common and so many little coincidences. Both of us moved here to be with family, our parents live down the street from each other, I purchased a car from the dealership Kevin's mom works at, not knowing that she did, and my parents knew Kevin's step dad and had met Kevin once before at pickeleball. It was meant to be!

The day of the popping the big question was Christmas. The morning of Christina and I exchanged gifts and cleared the tree out, destroying the house in the process. It was Christmas so it was to be expected. After opening gifts we drove to Mike and Maria's house which is about seven minutes away. We had brunch, opened gifts, and enjoyed Christmas together. They were aware of what I was up to that day since it was important to Christina that they were involved. I asked a couple weeks previously for their blessing and fortunately it was well received. Well not exactly at first... Mike spoke up after I asked for Christina's hand in marriage and was told "Absolutely Not". Knowing Mike, I knew has was just giving me a hard time. The most important part of the proposal was for it to be a secret and a surprise for Christina and to have her parents involved. So after we left the Culotta's house we headed back to our messy house. On the way back knowing I was going to propose when we got home I didn't really feel nervous, until we actually got home. I thought I had it all planned out well but she knew something was going on because I was acting strange, I would walk room to room. Some of the walking was me being nervous and some of it was waiting for her parents and my mom to show up. When I got the text that everyone was here I approached Christina and said "I have one more gift for you but it is outside and you have to put a blind fold on". She grabbed her sandals and put the blind fold on and we headed outside. As we were heading outside to the backyard, I asked her "What do you think it is?" She said it is a brand new Lexus? I laughed and said not quite. I told her to think of something warm, this is because I kept joking about getting a chiminea to throw her off days prior. She then said is it a fireplace? I told her no, then turned her around asked her to take her blindfold off. As she was taking the blindfold off, I got down on one knee with her parents around and started to propose. Her first response I believe was "Oh my god stop". I was happy to hear her say yes and it was a special moment in our own backyard with our parents there. The proposal was recorded so Christina's Christmas Proposal will always be remembered.