We met at a New Year's Eve party. Sam caught my eye when he threw a firework directly at my car (I guess you could say there were "sparks")! We barely spoke that night, but when we began talking, it was like we had known each other our whole lives. I got to pick where we went on our first date. Of course I chose El Mariachi which is a local restaurant in my hometown. I went there once a week in high school, if not twice, and I wanted to take him there. On the way, I was so nervous and could not stop talking. I forgot to tell him our turn, so we ended up taking the long way around and he, of course, jokes with me now about how I am still terrible at giving directions. Once we finally got to the restaurant, I couldn't stop rambling, and he just listened, chiming in with stories of his own and making me feel so comfortable. I just knew he was the one then. I had never dated anyone before, but Sam made me feel comfortable and safe from the moment we began dating. People always say God brings people into your life when you least expect it, and He definitely placed Sam in mine during a time I didn't realize I needed him most. For the first year and a half of us dating, we were long distance. Most people say long distance is hard, but we beat the odds and continued to love and grow together. We have grown up together and have experienced so many of life's major milestones together. Graduating high school, graduating college, Sam attending pharmacy school and becoming Dr. Samuel Carr, PharmD, big tests, welcoming new family members, and so many more of life's greatest moments. Now, here we are, over eight years later, planning our wedding! We are about to experience one of life's greatest moments, together, and we are so excited!

It was a Saturday night. January 14, 2023. Sam had told me the night before that I would need to leave the house for a couple hours on Sunday (okay, not suspicious at all, dude). I had spent the whole day getting pampered and stressing about what I was going to wear the next day. For eight years, I had pictured how he would propose, and that day was finally coming. Sam had to work in Hattiesburg that Saturday. He got home at 9:00 that night and everything seemed normal. I walked into the kitchen to get some water and he asked me to grab him a beer (if you know Sam, you know this is very on brand for him). When I opened the fridge, there was a note that said "Read me." I froze. I read it. I had to read it twice actually to make sure I was reading it correctly. The last line of his perfect note read, "Now bring me a beer and lets get married!" (again, if you know, you know). I walked into the living room, and he was down on one knee with the most gorgeous ring I had ever seen. It was more perfect than I could have ever imagined. Just me, him, and Wilbur. It was so intimate, and we were able to soak up every moment of it together, as a family. January 14, 2023 will forever be one of the best days of our lives.