Amber's side: Nathan and I met while in high school and were friends all throughout high school and college. My senior year out at Texas Tech was when we started dating. He came over to the house one night and he asked if he could speak with me. We went into my room and he told me that he liked me, and I told him that I liked him, and then he walked out. It is kind of humorous to think about it now, but it was a kind of awkward moment back then.  We went on our first date on February 5th of 2005. We went to Starbucks and ordered Caramel Apple Ciders and sat there and talked. We then came back to my house and played Nintendo 64, played cards and ordered pizza. It was a fun night and really kicked off our relationship. We went on numerous dates after that and just had a really good time getting to know each other better.

In the summer of 2005, I went to Russia on a summer project with Campus Crusade for Christ and Nathan stayed in Lubbock to take some summer classes. It was a very challenging summer both mentally and spiritually, but I like to think that this took our relationship to a deeper level. We have survived plenty of semesters while we were apart with Nathan going to school in Lubbock out at Texas Tech and me working full time in McKinney. It was comforting to know that he would be closer to me after December of 2007, when he graduated.

I rode out to Lubbock with Nathan’s parents to attend his graduation and take some pictures on the Texas Tech football field (how cool is that!). It was a cold, rainy day, but we were still going to take the pictures. He made me close my eyes and walked me to the 50 yard line on the football field. It was such a cool moment after spending years in the stands watching the Red Raiders play in some exciting games! We took pictures of each other while we waited for Heather (Nathan’s sister) to get there so she could take pictures of both of us. She took one with our backs facing the scoreboard and Nathan said that I should look at it to make sure it looked ok. I told him that I was sure it was fine because she is good at taking pictures. I wasn’t sure what was going on. I looked at the picture and realized there was something written on the screen, so when I turned around and read it, the screen had a message saying “Amber: You have been a great girlfriend who has done so much for me. I would hate to ask anymore from you, but I do have one final request that may require much more of your time effort, and love…” When I turned back around, Nathan was on one knee and asked me to marry him. I was so excited and really could not believe how it happened. It was one of the best moments of my life! We hugged and kissed and I cried and it was great!

Ever since then it has been a roller coaster trying to get things ready for the wedding. Nathan started working full time in Greenville, and I was working full time in McKinney and going to graduate school three nights a week. We started looking for a house and in April finally found one we both loved. We closed on our house on April 24th and started moving things in shortly afterward. We have bought dresses, tuxedos, invitations, napkins, and all sorts of decorations for the wedding. We have looked at countless places for new furniture and appliances to put in the new house all the while working full time and me going to school. It has been a wonderful three plus years with Nathan and I am truly looking forward to our wedding day and the many wonderful years that are to come as man and wife.

Nathan's side: Amber and I have been friends since her 8th and my 7th grade year.  Over the years, mostly in high school, we hung out a lot and became closer as friends.  I followed my sister out to Texas Tech where Amber and I later started dating.  Amber and I continued to be friends during college and it was very easy since Amber and Heather were roommates for quite a while.  I always knew that Amber liked me, because Heather told me!  (Don't tell Amber that).  She was always a special friend so I decided why not try to see if we could begin another kind of relationship. 

I admit my first attempt to ask her out wasn't very good, but at least it worked.  We had a fun time going on dates to the various local places in Lubbock.  We had a lot of fun at the Texas Tech Football games.  Since she is such a genius, she got out of college a lot faster than necessary.  Because of this we had a long distance relationship that in my mind help build a strong base. 

After 2 and a half years of dating, I decided that I would ask her to marry me.  Since we had a lot of great times at the Texas Tech Football field, I decided it would be cool to propose to her there.  It was rainy, cold, and certainly not flawless, but the important thing was that she said yes.  Everything else is pretty much just history.  I am looking forward to tying the knot in a few weeks and beginning on the fun journey of life with her.