He swiped right and then I swiped right and we have been inseparable ever since. I remember the first time I met him.. I was so nervous. I knew there was something special about him when we met. He met me outside and opened the door for me. Since our first date, we sat on his couch and talked for hours. It was the easiest conversation I have ever had. After that first date we have spent every available minute together!

Who would’ve ever thought a Louisiana boy like me would fall in love with an Alabama girl? I don’t think in our wildest dreams we could’ve drawn it up this way. We met on the ever-so-popular “Bumble” dating app and swiped right to each other not knowing what would follow. We just clicked and couldn’t stop talking to each other all day and all night. It just seemed easy and comfortable. I truly believe we were the answer to each other’s prayers and we continue to be grateful for it.

It was Mother’s Day weekend. My first Mother’s Day as a mom. For about a year we had a family beach trip planned with his family on Mother’s Day weekend in Orange Beach, Alabama. We were all so excited except when Stephen found out that his National Guard drill was on the same weekend and he wouldn’t be able to attend. We were all super bummed out. Hudson and I piled our belongings in the car and headed to the beach. We enjoyed our time at the beach, and we were heading back home on Sunday afternoon. After getting home to a sweet Mother’s day card and a bottle of wine from Stephen we waited for him to get home. Finally Stephen was on the way home and he sent me a text that he needed help unloading some stuff out of his truck. Not suspecting anything I put Hudson in his bouncer and met him outside. He walked around the truck and greeted me with a dozen roses. He told me how much he loved me and told me Happy First Mothers days. Still not expecting anything he started to tell me how much he loved me and then it hit me. This was the moment. Starting to cry he got down on one knee and proposed. It was the easiest answer.. YES! After that we celebrated with our family and popped some bubbly. And now we can't wait to get married!

I had bought the engagement ring without giving out any clues. With the help of my mom and sisters in law, I found the perfect ring. Just the week before I proposed, Jessie turned to me after seeing all of our friends getting engaged and said “I want to get engaged” with kind of a frowny-faced smirk. I looked at her and said “Yeah mhm. Soon...”. I left for drill the following weekend while she was away with my family at the beach - on Mother’s Day. As I came home, I stopped to buy a bundle of roses. My palms were sweaty and I was more nervous than I’d admit at the time. I called her and Hudson out to help me unload my bags and met her halfway and got down on one knee. She had no idea it was coming. I think I even saw Hudson with a huge smirk on his face (he’s the best at keeping secrets). She cried, I cried, and even Hudson cried - probably because he was hungry. It was one of the most happy and memorable moments of our life for sure.