We're getting married!

We had just started nursing school and we were on the second day of orientation. We were in a giant room with a bunch of tables. I had walked in late with some of the few guys in our class. The guys I was with decided to sit at a table with only 2 seats left, leaving me to fend for myself. As I scanned the room, I saw Devin. Our eyes met. It was love at first sight. Lol jk...... I found the table with the only available seat. It turns out the people at that table were pretty cool and they became some of my closest friends. As nursing school went on, countless hours were spent in class, the library, and in lab together. And Devin and I grew closer. I was continuously asked about my feelings for her, but I had previously told myself I wasn't ready for a relationship. COVID-19 happened. Nursing school became all online and the hours spent with my friends were no more. I felt myself missing it. More specifically, missing Devin. We found ways to continue studying together and hanging out and our friendship soon developed into a relationship.

It was the beginning of a new journey for both of us: nursing school. Zachary had just graduated from Texas A&M University (Whoop) and I was transferring from Texas State University (Eat 'Em Up Cats). On the second day of our orientation, Zachary had arrived just shy of being late (per usual) and all of the tables were filled except for one seat at the table I was sitting at. He sat down, asked to join the group message I was in for help with classes, and the rest was history. One year after becoming friends, Zachary confessed his feelings for me in a handwritten letter. Yes, I know, he's definitely a keeper. Finally, we were officially a couple. Lot's of "I love you's" and tons of wonderful memories later, led to the night of the BIG question. SPOILER ALERT: I said yes!

I wanted to make the proposal as much of a surprise as possible. We had previously planned a birthday dinner for me at "The Grotto" in Galveston. Devin had made some special surprise plans for me that included a picnic on the beach for dessert after dinner. Little did she know that I had been tweaking these plans to turn it into the proposal. After dinner, while our friends were setting up the "picnic", Devin and I sat at the San Luis hotel bar. She told me she really thought I was going to propose at dinner. It was so hard to keep my composure. Finally, the text that everything was ready had arrived. It was go time! We drove down the seawall to what we like to call "our spot". I pulled the car over to park. Devin was confused because her plans had us driving further down the seawall to East Beach. As we got out of the car, she saw what was set up and immediately knew what was happening. We walked over to "our spot", I got down onto one knee, and asked her to be my forever!

So, I thought I was being so secretive by planning what I thought was the best surprise birthday beach picnic anyone has ever seen but little did I know that Zachary already knew about the whole thing. Zachary was turning twenty-five and I knew that I had to do something special for him, so what better way to celebrate than to have some of his closest friends come grab dinner at a fancy Italian restaurant and end the night with decorated cake, fun drinks, and food on the beach. I knew that this picnic needed to be set up in time for sunset so Lauren and Corbin left us at the restaurant to go set up this "surprise" for Zachary. When the text came through that this picnic was "set up and ready", Zachary and I raced into the car and were on our way. I knew the exact location that we were supposed to be going to (or so I thought) when Zachary stopped a little sooner than I was expecting. I said to Zachary, "Keep going straight, we have to make it to your surprise before sunset" and that's when I saw it...the most beautiful picnic I had ever seen. When I turned to Zachary, he looked at me and said "I think we are exactly where we need to be". Immediately, there were instant tears flowing from eyes. He led me to the picnic, said a heartfelt speech (I'll spare you the details), got down onto one knee and asked me to marry him.