Greg and I were both working as para-educators at Rockville High School, and though I can't quite recall our initial meeting, he seemed to become a permanent fixture in my life pretty quickly. When I asked him to be my assistant coach for the basketball team, his immediate 'yes' was the first glimpse of his kind and supportive nature. One day, after a practice, he spontaneously invited me to join him and his friends for a night at Top Golf. During the car ride there, he sang at the top of his lungs, filling the air with his infectious energy. I couldn't help but sit there, laughing and smiling the entire way. It was in those moments that I felt there was something special about him, even though I couldn't quite put my finger on it. Over the course of the following year, Greg became not just my best friend but also the person I had been unknowingly praying for. Little did I realize that the person I'd been wishing for was right there in front of me the whole time. And then, one day, I finally agreed to go on a date with him. Since that moment, we've been inseparable, our hearts entwined in a love story that started with laughter and singing in the car but continues to grow with every passing day.

One thing I learned early on dating Ash was that she had very good intuition. Any time I took her on a date she would ask where we were going, and I would always tell her “It’s a surprise.” From a picnic in the park to a restaurant in town, she always knew where we were going or what we were doing. And from that moment Ash and I started talking about getting married I knew I HAD to surprise her. Fast forward We had planned a birthday trip to Mexico so I thought that is exactly when I had to do it! But how? How could I get the ring through security? What happens if they check my bag? What if I drop the ring in the sand? What if she loses it in Mexico? So many things ran through my head. But then I also figured she would also see that coming from a mile away. Sooooooo I came up with a new plan. It was a few days before our birthday trip and I had convinced Ashley that my parents wanted to treat us to a birthday dinner. On the way there I told her that something came up and my parents couldn’t make it. We had dinner and came back to the house where her mom was waiting for us. Her job was to keep Ashley in the house and distracted, while I set things up outside with the other love of her life, her dog, Gracie. 5 min later as I was setting things up, I hear the door open and Ashley's voice calling for Gracie. At that moment I thought everything was going to be ruined. But Then I heard her mom screaming for her to get back into the house. That was a close one. I began to set up outside with my side kick Gracie. We started a fire and I get her little sign on her that said “can we keep him.” A few min later the fire was going and I asked her to come outside. She saw Gracie sitting there with her little sign and I got down on one knee and asked her to marry me. Well folks’ mission accomplished! I got the girl, and I surprised her!