Love Story.

So, here's our story.

The first weekend in January 2009 we were both off to Jackson, Alabama to help with the d-now at Judd's church. I didn't know Matthew, and he didn't know me. The first thing I remember is sitting down in the fellowship hall to eat and Dumas sitting there telling Matthew all about how I have and take a ridiculous amount of pictures! (Oh, how Im so thankful that wasn't a deal breaker!! ha) So through the weekend I purposefully would come up with things to ask him or talk to him about. haha, What can I say, I thought he was cute :) On the way home from this d-now it got around that we were all going to watch 24 at Ben's Sunday and Monday night. I made sure to be there, and later to find out so did Matthew. After 24 we went our separate ways... but coincidentally both ended up at the Opelika Wal-Mart looking for school notebooks! Even stranger than that after leaving Wal-Mart we both ended up in the Arby's drive through line. After that, I felt like something was up! We chatted on facebook a few nights after that before he asked for my number. Friday night he asked me to go to the Auburn vs. Alabama basketball game- and sit next to him and all his jumpsuit friends. I said yes, and he picked me up the next day at 11:15 to get good seats at the game! We hung out ALL day, literally 11:15 am- 11:30 pm. A few weeks later he asked me out on our first date! A few short weeks after that as we studied on my futon for upcoming tests he slipped me a little note that said "Will you be my Valentine? Check Yes or No" Of course I immediately checked yes! Shortly later that night he asked me (yes, I made him say it!!) to be his girlfriend- boy was it a big night :) Ever since then we have loved getting to know each other better and spending so much time together.

Now is where our engagement story comes into play:

Two Thursdays ago while at work in Atlanta I found out that I didn't have to work Friday. So first thing I thought, perfect I can get to Auburn and surprise Matthew before going to the beach Friday with his family! So right after work I packed like crazy and was off! I knew he was going on a bike ride at 6, so I hoped to catch him before he left. I didn't :( I got to his apartment knocked and got no reply! So I called him and "angrily" told him to get home because I was there! He got back and I told him dinner was on me, you pick the place. Something like Momma G's right now, or something like Logan's or Santa Fe after a shower. He said Logan's or Santa Fe, so I was off to my apartment for a shower! Shortly after he picked me up and we went on to Santa Fe. We had a yummy meal there, and he mentioned that we needed to go by Grandmothers to get a birthday present but first he wanted to go on a walk. So we got done with dinner and headed for our walk- he said at the Arboretum... and of course I replied with the Arboretum is scary at night! He said, "That's why I'm here!" We laughed and then went in. He said lets go down by the water and sit and talk a little bit. When we got down there he told me he made me something. Me and my big mouth said, "hmm, thats weird... you don't usually make me things!" haha. So he pulled a little picture book out of his back pocket. On each page was a significant event in our life. So he showed it to me and got me to explain what each page had on it.

Page 1 was where we met:

Page 2 was the first day we hung out together:

Page 3 and 4 was our first date:

Page 5 was our first Valentines:

Page 6 and 7 was our One year date:

(the picture of Hamilton's wouldn't upload for some reason!)

I had to get his help with the next page. He told me it was us right now, in the Arboretum.

For the last page he made me stand up and I flipped the page and he got down on his knee. Of course I started crying and he told me all the reasons he loves me and asked me to marry him. Of course I said Yes.

And then he had to remind me to put the ring on. After that we sat there and listened to a playlist he had made of some of our songs. Of course we were in a hurry to get back to the car to look at the ring AND call everyone :)

It was simply amazing, and I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with Matthew Ryan Watford! I also can't wait to become Mrs. Watford :) I am so blessed.

So far the only decision we have made is MAY 7th, 2011 in Huntsville, AL... Save the date :)