How We Met
I met Matthew in Greenville, South Carolina on June 10, 2012. Both of our churches were there for a week long World Changers mission trip to reroof houses in the area. Matthew had just graduated high school in Eufaula and I was about to start my senior year of high school. Well, the first night on the trip we were divided up randomly into “crews” to meet each other and start working the next day. Once we all got there we started to introduce ourselves and I was the first one to go. As I started talking about how I live in Birmingham, I noticed a huge smile on Matthew’s face. His smile was followed by asking me where I had been thinking about going to college the next year. I quickly told him I was planning on going to a school in Birmingham called UAB. I will never forget his even bigger smile when he told me that is where he would be starting school in a couple of months! It turned out a few of Matthew’s best friends were on our same crew and decided they would help set us up…and we are so glad they did! From heart shaped shingles, encouragrams, and always making sure we sat by each other; the best had to be our first picture together. We were going to get a group picture of our crew, but right before the picture was taken everyone ran out of the way leaving us the only ones left in the picture! At the end of the trip Matthew asked for my number and the rest is history!
how they asked
Several months ago Matthew and his family invited me to go on a skiing trip with them to Steamboat Springs, Colorado for spring break. Having never been skiing before I was nervous, but said yes! I had no idea when I said yes to going that it was all a part of Matthew’s proposal plan-especially since we previously talked about getting engaged closer to the fall. Well, about a month before the trip Matthew asked me if I would be interested in going on a sleigh ride since his parents recently went on one and really enjoyed it. A sleigh ride, in the snow, through the Rocky Mountains-OF COURSE I said yes. So on Monday night of the trip we got ready for the sleigh ride and met our ride outside that would bring us to the ranch. We pulled up to a beautiful red sleigh with a driver already inside ready to go, so we were off! The view was AMAZING. It was a romantic winter wonderland that no picture would ever be able to fully capture. We rode through the snowy landscape hand in hand. It was perfect! We began to approach the cabin where we would be having dinner, and the rancher pulled the sleigh just outside the door.
As soon as we stopped he asked if we wanted a picture by the horse and sleigh, so we hopped down. I wanted to get a picture from one angle, but knowing where the photographer was, Matthew quickly moved me to the front of the horse for a second picture (and to get me in place to propose!). Once the pictures were taken by the rancher, Matthew took my hands and started talking about our story. I knew what he was fixing to ask and my jaw dropped!! Then I saw him get down on one knee in the snow with a gorgeous ring. Next thing I knew I heard the words “Haley, will you marry me?” and I was already saying YES! before he could even finish!
