Marcus and I both attended LD Bell High School in Hurst TX.  Marcus and my best friends Courtney and Sara were in the same American Sign Language class.  I was a senior and he was a junior, so our paths had never crossed.  After a few conversations they saw something in him that they thought I would like.  After a few dates and double dates, it was official.... HE WAS MINE!  We dated the remaining part of my senior year and then it was time for me to go to UTA.

College is the time where relationships are tested.  Couples tend to break-up to allow each other space.  We decided not to follow tradition.  We could handle the separation and seeing each other only on the weekends.  College came and went, so it was time to join the real-world.  At the point of graduation we had been together 5 years. 

No relationship is without its ups and downs.  And ours was never perfect by any means.  There became a time in our relationship where we decided that we needed time apart.  We separated for just under 2 years, still remaining friends the entire time.  

We started reconnecting at the beginning of 2014.  Realizing that both of us had matured and grown significantly, we started dating again.  All of the good things were still there, with none of the bad.  We officially started dating again Valentines Day 2014.

After being together a combined total of 10+ years, a girl can get a little impatient when it comes to getting married.  I would drop slight hints from time to time but I'm wasn't getting any younger.  So I would just start sending him pictures of engagement rings off of Pinterest, hoping he got the hints.  

I knew that 2 big events we coming towards the end of the year, my birthday and Christmas.  Well my birthday came and went with no proposal so I assumed (like most of my family) that he was going to pop the question on Christmas.  But a few days after my birthday Marcus wanted to take me out to dinner at Olive Garden.  

I wasn't expecting anything.  He would occasionally mention that this was a Birthday Dinner Date, but I didn't think anything of it.  We had a lovely meal, with great conversation.  BUT it was a Wednesday night and being a teacher I had papers to grade and plans to work on, so I wanted to hurry up and get home.  He kept trying to get me to wait around and talk, but I was getting irritated and pushy.  I was worried about getting my school work done so I begged him to leave. He agreed and as we walked out to the car, he began to tell me that the really wanted to give me my birthday present in the restaurant.  Again begin so focused on ME I just said well you can give it to me in the car.  He had stopped put his arms around me and said or "now"  He then asked me to be his wife.  I of course screamed (now kinda glad he didn't do it in the restaurant)  then he put on the ring.  It was perfect.  

School work was now the furthest thing from my mind.  I didn't want to call my family and tell them on the phone I wanted to tell them in person.  So we left the restaurant and headed straight to my parents house.  Mom and Rachael were the only people there.  When I told my mom she screamed so loud, Mexico called to complain.  Then Rachael popped out of her study session and said, "darn-it we were short by a month."  Later explaining that the family was betting that he was going to propose on Christmas.  

So now began the wonderful and sometimes dreaded WEDDING PLANNING. 

We will be getting married at the First United Methodist Churst of Hurst, TX at 5pm.

Our Reception is at the Embassy Suites DFW International Airport North-Outdoor World. At 6pm. With cocktail reception beginning at arrival and dinner beginning at 7pm.  

Bridesmaids:

Courtney VanZandt (Matron Of Honor)

Rachael Cook 

Rebecca Cook

Lindsay Cook

Melissa Washington

Groomsmen:

Mark Allen (Best Man)

Noah Klausing

Matt Cook

Steve Hoover

Brandon VanZandt

We will be honeymooning in Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida.  We will be spending a entire week there.  Most of you know that I am a HUGE Disney nerd, but Marcus has never been, so I cannot wait to turn him into one too.  Please use the Disney Registry when considering gifts for us.  We all know Disney is not cheap so any additional support we can receive will be greatly appreciated.