Emily and Mike met the old fashioned way... in person! They were each on Atlanta's Beltline and decided to grab drinks at Cold Beer. Mike had Dixie, his three-legged wing woman do all the work! She hopped over to Emily who asked if she could pet her. Mike responded with "Yes, but I have to get your number and take you to dinner." It worked and after shutting down the restaurant on their first date, they knew they had something special.

We planned a trip to Morocco where we got to spend New Year's Eve in the Sahara Desert. We rode camels into our camp just as the sun was starting to set. Mike was super adamant that we had a great view for the sunset and practically jumped off his camel and ran straight to the tent when we arrived. I figured he needed to use the restroom and I wasn't about to stand in the way of a man and his sunset. He walked me over to a tented area with a perfect view of the sun setting over the dunes and asked me to marry him! I was so excited I could barely process the question and kept asking Mike if this was real! I was finally able to respond with an emphatic YES! He had worked to get a DJ to the middle of the desert so we could celebrate and dance the night away. The Berber people who owned the camp cooked us an entire lamb which is an incredible honor. We ended the night counting down the to the New Year under the clearest skies, dancing and singing with a Berber drum circle. Then they locked us in our tent because I'm pretty sure with the language barrier they thought we got married and kept wishing we would have 27 children! It was an unreal night that I will never forget. New Year's Eve has always been my favorite holiday and it's the day my parents got engaged 35 years ago!

This rock has been burning a hole in my pocket. The story of this ring begins long before the desert sands of Merzouga, where civilization yields to the mighty Sahara. For ten months, I sweated bullets, constantly checking its whereabouts. Did have that ring with me? I had a grand—not the usual Mike-style— plan for proposing to Em on her birthday in Saint Lucia. Thankfully, that never came to pass. Because what unfolded was far more epic. One evening at the Gresham's, while the ladies lounged in porch hammocks, Wes and I were in the garage. He crafted arrows while I outlined my intricate proposal plan. With Wes's thumbs-up, I left confident I had a solid plan. (Cut to 90 seconds later) Returning to the porch, Wes and I caught the tail end of a conversation. Mags let’s out, "Never propose on a lady's birthday!" to which Emily enthusiastically agreed. Back to the drawing board... By the visit's end, we decided to elevate our friendship overseas, settling on Morocco for New Year's. Sometimes plans just fall into place, and that's exactly what happened. I knew there couldn't be a more perfect setting than the Sahara at sunset—just saying it sounds wild. Preparing for the trip, Emily walked into my office to find me surrounded by AirTags. I reassured her—it never hurts to be cautious, right? I had seven AirTags, each attached to another, hardwired into more, with one even connected to the ring itself. It was definitely overkill, but I was taking this ring across three continents. Safety was paramount, yet sleepless nights haunted me with nightmares of dropping it on a sand dune. The emotional rollercoaster was unreal. Aside from the sunset proposal, I had no plan. But that changed the first chance Wes and I could pull Abdul, our amazing driver, aside without Emily overhearing. I quickly informed Abdul of my intentions, and we schemed. During the van ride, while others napped, I removed the layers of AirTags attached to the ring. As we reached the road's end, the van came alive and we saw the camels waiting to carry us deeper into the desert. Reality set in. Perched on a camel's back, surrounded by endless sand dunes and a silence unique to deserts—perfect for nervously contemplating life's biggest question—I was shaking with nerves. Surreal doesn't begin to describe it, haha! Arriving at the desert camp, we dismounted. The guides eagerly offered tourist trinkets, but my mind raced—sunset was 8-10 minutes away. Politely purchasing two items, I grabbed Emily's hand, insisting we head to camp before I burst. Speed-walking like Olympians, we reached our posh glamping tent. Securing the ring under my Djellaba, Emily adorned a stunning magenta Djellaba and let me tell you, words don’t do the justice that her beauty displayed that night. She looked like a princess, beautiful inside and out. Taking her hand, I practically pulled her along. Arriving at a little zen area with pillows and a canopy, Wes and Maggie discreetly positioned themselves with phones ready. As the sun dipped behind the dunes, I held her close, expressing my love and friendship, then spun her to face me. I asked the question, and though she needed a moment to grasp it (I definitely remember asking her twice), she emphatically said “yes,” and our celebrations began! This is how I remember it, my hands shaking as I recall the feelings. With Abdul and our Berber hosts' help, a DJ spun tunes after dinner, and a lamb was prepared in celebration. The Berber people, among the kindest I've met, gifted Emily a beautiful necklace during the festivities. Late into the night, amid wishes for happiness and for us to have 27 babies, we gathered around a fire pit. The Berber drum circle set the rhythm as we welcomed the new year, surrounded by crackling fire and endless stars. It was a hell of a night!