We met at McConn, our on campus coffee shop. I had been seeing this really cute guy literally everywhere I went on campus, I mean everywhere. One day I was studying in McConn with a couple of friends and how lucky am I that this super cute guy that I have had my eye on comes up to me and asks to sit by me. Of course I said yes and we ended up talking about anything and everything for the next 3 hours. For the next few days we met for coffee until he asked me on our first "official" date. We became best friends and the rest is history. I didn't know my soulmate was asking to sit next to me that day, but I'm sure glad he did.

In the beginning of the day I was feeling somewhat relaxed and prepared for what was to come. Little did I know that the feeling of anticipation was slowly creeping its way into my mind. As Jennifer and I were getting ready for church Sunday morning, Kori jokingly advised me not to forget the engagement ring! We had a good laugh about it until she left the room. I turn to grab and hold the ring in my hand before putting it in my wallet where it would have to hide for multiple hours, while I was with Jennifer. Holding that ring in my hand hours before I proposed triggered a nervousness in my entire being that I had never felt before! As we go through Sunday school and church service I could not focus for the life of me. Going over and over the plan in my head that Mary Beth and I had planned out the day before to surprise her at Bok Tower Gardens. Still nothing could calm me down. I was genuinely concerned she could hear my heart rapidly thumping in my chest, what to me sounded like a solo drummer on a major finale in a concert! As we are driving to Bok Tower Gardens I am acting so out of place. She notices. Says I'm acting like a "spaz" and this makes me even more nervous! At this point I just felt lucky I wasn't sweating profusely. This is finally it. We are there at Bok Tower. It's pouring rain. I felt so bad for Kristi and Mary Beth who were hiding out in bushes waiting for us to arrive. We're walking around now. Creeping closer and closer to "the spot." My heart feels like it's going to explode. We're finally at the spot and I'm getting the ring out as she's turned around. I'm down on one knee. In this moment everything faded. I felt completely calmed. Relaxed even. Looking up at the love of my life, the biggest smile on my face with arms extended. "Jennifer Kate Rowles. Will you marry me?" As she nods her head yes a flood of emotions come right back as I place the ring on her finger. I have never felt so much love and compassion in a single moment.