Though Mary Anne and I had met in passing prior to November 18th, that day changed my life for the best. Prior to November 18th I was just another Dad at the school and Mary Anne, the director. Because she’s professional and good at her job, she was oblivious to the crush that had been harboring over the previous months. I perhaps knew her Facebook page by heart, was blown away at the Mom she was and the clear passion she had for her job and her family. Have I mentioned yet that she’s stunningly gorgeous? Anyways, I would periodically check-in via my youngest sister, “so what’s the story with the Director again?” My sister, also oblivious it seems, did not get the hint that maybe I was hopeful she could help a brother (literally) out. So on November 18th I took matters into my own hands; I walked into her office and just started telling my life story. Almost an hour and a half later the DHS was waiting outside of Mary Anne’s door for a drop-in visit. Our first moment ended there but the rest is history.

Mary Anne is basically a private investigator so I knew I had my work cut out for me. What better way to keep her off guard than make fake plans for attending an outdoor work event in the rain? Ah yes, perfection! Though the work event was never real, the rain and the outdoors part was. So not only was I trying to keep a PI off my trail but Mother Nature wanted a word. Nonetheless I was not to be deterred, I had the perfect location—Mary Anne’s childhood home. Family means the world to us and (almost) all of the people we love were to be there, family and friends alike. Oh, and there was a puppy! Our newest baby, Posy, was waiting for one final surprise after Mary Anne said “yes!” The proposal was so much more than the day itself. Prior to proposal day I had the best planning team in Say-Gray and Aunt Mads, from helping to organize a surprise get together afterwards down to the matching monogrammed t-shirts, the proposal was weeks in the making and touched by people that all love Mary Anne most. Best of all, she said, “YES!”