How We Met: Andrew and I met online in September of 2013. We emailed and texted occasionally about our favorite football team, the New England Patriots. I thought he would have been a friend only given that our initial conversation were during the Sunday games and they were brief. On October 9, 2013 our texting extended from talking about a horrible loss to the Bengals to Andy asking if he could call me later in the evening. Andy and I met on October 13, 2013 in person. We watched the Pats play the Saints. Towards the end o0f the game, Andy asked me to be his girlfriend and there was no hesitation in my answer. Andy knew I am a divorced mother of 2 incredible children. From the moment he met my children, he has been an amazing stepfather figure to them.
how they asked: Andy’s father owns an ocean-front home in Cape Neddick, Maine. We have spent our first family vacation with the children there this summer and have spent many weekends there alone as well. We spent our time walking on the Marginal Way in Ogunquit, “sunbathing” on Short Sands Beach in York, etc. Andy and I love it there. On October 14, 2014 (1 day after our 1 year anniversary), Andy told me that his father asked that he check on the house in Maine. Since we live 1 hour from the house, it was easy to get there. So we drove up and spoke about our memories of the Maine, with “Just Another Day in Paradise” playing on the radio. The sun was starting to set as we reached Ogunquit. Andy suggested that we go to Short Sands before the sun had set for the evening and I agreed. We walked on the beach talking about our times on the beach, breakfasts at Goldenrod Kisses. I noticed that Andy had his hand in his left pocket, but I just thought he was looking for his keys. At one point in our walk, I was a few steps ahead of him. He then said “Hey!”. I turned around and Andy was on one knee. He had his grandmother’s engagement ring (59 year old ring with 51 years of marriage embedded). He simply asked, “Will you marry me?”. I said “YES! Of course, I’ll marry you”. It was the perfect proposal. It was at sunset, on our favorite beach, with no fanfare-just the 2 of us.