Where do we begin? The first time we met? The first date? The first kiss? After the realization that we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together? The moment Marie said "Yes, of coarse!"?

We'd like to start our story further back in order to represent God's divine plan for our lives. Obviously we wouldn't be here today if it weren't for our parents. Marie was born in the beautiful state of Ohio on November 25th, 1984 but moved to Corpus Christi, Texas at 18 months of age (see God was looking out for her right off the bat). Ironically, 3 days prior I was born on Thanksgiving Day (November 22nd) 1984 in Pampa, Texas. Thus the road began...

ALAN’S road to UT:
I was raised near my family’s ranch between Miami and Pampa until 4th grade when Dad moved our family 30 miles down the road to Canadian, Texas (where I've always considered home in my heart) because of a job promotion. After my freshman year in high school my Dad was offered another promotion that would move us two hours West across the panhandle to Dalhart, Texas. A decision was to be made and with all honesty I can say that God had his hand on our family’s future when he took us to Dalhart. It was a hard move for obvious reasons. I believe that I would've never gone to The University of Texas at Austin had we not moved to Dalhart. God has blessed me with the talent to run (although I suppose that has diminished some since I've graduated). After a successful high school athletic career I was offered a collegiate scholarship to UT. I had a few football scholarship offers after high school and even more track scholarships but I chose to run track and follow in my Dad and Aunt Susan's footsteps. This was to be another big decision in which God’s plan for my life was revealed. I chose to run at The University of Texas where my Aunt Susan ran during her college years. I was seriously considering Georgia Tech (Mom really liked the coach who had trained the previous two Olympic 400 hurdle champions) but my heart was in Texas. Having my Aunt Susan, Uncle Barry, and cousins Sarah and Rebecca living in Austin made the decision that much easier as I was the only member from my graduating class (all 80+) that year to attend UT.

MARIE’S road to UT:
As mentioned previously, I was born in Massillon, Ohio where my parents were living while my dad went to Massillon Baptist College. I didn't have any say in where I was born, but I got back to Texas as soon as I could... so a year and a half later we were back in Texas. I grew up in Corpus where my dad was an associate pastor of our church and my mom was the church secretary. I grew up in a Christian home with a very grounded upbringing. We lived on the church property and I went to the school provided by the ministry. In July of '98 my parents separated. My dad moved to Minnesota, and a year later with the help of our family we moved to Lockhart. Even though this was a rough time for our family, there is no doubt in my mind that God was watching out for us. We moved to Lockhart the summer before my freshman year in high school which turned out to be a great time for transition, and little did I know but my next door neighbor would one day introduce me to the love of my life and man of my dreams, Alan! So back to high school, I played basketball and ran track my freshman year but didn't feel really drawn to either so I decided to be a football trainer and ended up sticking to that the rest of high school. Come Senior year when it was time to look at colleges I had always been drawn to UT and was confident I could get in thanks to the 10% rule... I know a lot of people hate that rule but I can't say much since it was in my favor. The only other school I looked at was Baylor and after visiting I knew that I wanted to stay in Austin. Like Alan, I was also influenced by my family ties to UT. My grandfather played football for Texas and my aunt Susan, uncle John, and uncle Jeff also attended UT. From my high school senior class of 250 only 3 of us went to UT compared to the 20+ that went to A&M.

ALMOST 4 YEARS PASS...without finding "THE ONE"

March 1st, 2007 - We met for the first time at Midnight Rodeo (country dancing) in Austin, Texas. Marie's old neighbor Trey Griffin was now a graduate student at UT running on the track team and was my roommate at the time. Trey was dating Kelly Hom (one of Marie's friends and co-workers) and of coarse Kelly brings a few friends, Trey brings a few friends. Ironically we didn't dance together or talk much...I must've not made a lasting impression because it was a few months before we really hung out again. :(

May 2007 - After a few failed attempts to hang out, around the time of graduation, Marie and I went on our first date down the street from where I lived to shoot darts and grab a bite to eat. We took Trey's dog Chawko with us and we took our first picture together. I left the week after graduation for Colorado where I spent the summer working on a dude ranch...pretty much getting paid to ride horses in the mountains (not your typical "work")! Marie stayed in Austin and continued to work as an event coordinator at the UT Law School.

Summer 2007 - We stayed in touch throughout the summer sending hand written letters every other week or so. It was an awesome and unique way to get to know someone and I really enjoyed getting the mail although I now understand why they call it snail mail. I would also call her periodically when I was able to get into town and have cell phone reception.

July 22-24, 2007 - Marie drove up to my family's cabin in Angel Fire, NM to visit. I'd like to say it was halfway and we each drove equal distances and met in the middle but her round-trip equaled roughly 1,400 miles while I had a two hour drive from the ranch. Marie nearly got stuck in the mud going up to the cabin but made it safely and enjoyed my Grandmother's company Sunday evening. I arrived that night around midnight after a long day of work. We spent all day Monday together riding four-wheelers, lounging on the deck, and doing some sight seeing around town. That evening I took her out for a nice dinner date at a local Italian food restaurant. Marie debuted her famous red dress and stole my heart away. ;) This was to be the dress I requested she wear the night I proposed.

September 30, 2007 - I made it back to Austin after a looooong summer in the mountains.

October 2007 - This was a big month for us! The first few nights back I took Marie on dinner dates. The first being at Papadeaux seafood and the next night was Trudy's. Marie took a day off of work and helped me get my room straight, unpacked, and a little shopping done. We began attending The Austin Stone Community Church together which was awesome. I'd been going there since my first semester at UT and Marie had been going there for a year and a half. It was just a blessing to find a church to attend and get involved with. I was introduced to Marie's mom and her fiance Hack during this month as well. Later we would go to Lockhart and visit her family at their house and enjoy many home cooked meals from Momma Shannon.

November 2007 - My horse Ande (pronounced on-day) arrived the second week of November. I'm boarding him just outside of Lockhart which makes it convenient when we go visit her family. We enjoy getting out of Austin and riding weekly. This was also a big month for birthdays with mine on the 22nd and hers on the 25th. I was able to fly home for Thanksgiving and while shopping for Marie's birthday present with my Mom we happened to browse a few engagement rings. Mom was excited but wasn't sure how serious I was. To be honest even I wasn't sure how serious I was but I knew that I couldn't let this one get away! ;)

December 2007 - BIG MONTH. I guess after looking at rings in Amarillo I began to think more and more about actually getting married. Anyone who knows me well was probably shocked when they found out that I am now engaged because I was always the one that would say...ohh I'll be single till like 30. The more time I spent with Marie it became apparent she was the one I desire to spend the rest of my life with. Marie was to have the test of her life (ok maybe a little exaggerated) over the Christmas & New Years holidays. We left a few days before Christmas and drove up to my Aunt Vicki and Uncle Carl's house in Southlake for a Christmas celebration with my whole mom's side of the family. We then continued North up to my parents house in Amarillo to spend Christmas before driving back to Austin to work a couple of days. I really enjoyed having Marie with me and wanted my family to have a chance to get to know her. After working the week after Christmas we flew back up to Amarillo to spend a long weekend celebrating Christmas with my dad's side of the family.

December 31, 2007 - New Years Eve was to be the big day. I planned to ask Marie to marry me. I surprised her with roses and we dressed up for a romantic dinner date at B.L. Bistro in Amarillo. She had no idea what was about to unfold and I was excited and a bit nervous but it went perfect. I proposed after dinner at the restaurant and as you know she said, "Yes, of coarse!" What a night! We went back to the house and celebrated New Years with my parents toasting our new engagement.

Marie's thoughts on the Big Day - After celebrating Alan's grandmother's birthday at her house in Miami we drove back to Amarillo. We had a relaxing day going to Cavender's spending our Christmas gift cards and then took a two hour nap on the couch. Since our dinner reservation wasn't until 9pm we had plenty of time to just hang out that afternoon. Around 6 I started to get ready so I wouldn't have to rush at all. I went in my room to get my dress so I could iron it, and when I returned to the living room Alan asked me if I had turned on the light. I said no and continued with my ironing. It finally dawned on me that he asked for a reason so I went back into my room to find the beautiful red roses and sweet note that said "To an unforgettable evening together!" I sent my mom a text telling her about the roses and note and she replied, "He must like you." In my head I was thinking "Mom it's more like he must Love me!!!" Later on I realized how hard it must have been for her to not say anything more since she already knew what was going to happen. Our table was ready for us when we arrived and we had an amazing dinner. At some point during the night he mentioned he had a "little" surprise for me but wouldn't give me any hints. :( After our appetizer, salad, and entree Alan insisted that we have dessert. I was a little hesitant but the turtle cheesecake was awesome and I was glad we ended the night with dessert... or so I thought. Predictable as I am I excused myself to go to the restroom and to make sure I found it he walked with me halfway there. So nice of him to show me the way to the restroom but I later found out it only to sneak out to the car and grab the ring. I came back to our table and he asked if I was ready for my surprise. As he pulled out the box he said it was just a little something to go with my necklace. For my birthday he had given me a James Avery dove necklace and the card he had put with my roses was a James Avery card so in my mind I'm thinking a piece of jewelry to match the necklace. Needless to say he did a great job throwing me off. So he pulls out this purple box and sets it on the table for me to open. It didn't look like a James Avery box, but it also didn't look like a ring box. So I took off the lid... and there were little flaps covering it, so I still didn't know what was inside. Finally, I pick up the little cover and to my surprise there's a beautiful diamond ring inside!!!! Then Alan grabbed my hands and said "Marie Elizabeth Moore will you marry me?" with a huge smile on my face I said "Yes! Of Course!!!" I couldn't believe it, he had just proposed and I had no idea it was coming! :) He put the ring on my finger and by that time no one else was sitting in our section so we got to enjoy the moment alone and it was absolutely amazing! We called my mom after a while and I believe she answered the phone in half of a ring. Little did I know that the Friday we left to fly to Amarillo Alan had gone by her office to ask her blessing. She was so excited for me and for us and I was really surprised that she was able to keep it a secret, but she did good. Then as Alan mentioned, we went back to his parents to celebrate our engagement and the New Year.

2008 - We've really enjoyed the last few months just spending more time together, growing in our relationship with God and with one another. I couldn't be more happy with my decision to ask Marie to marry me and for God's grace He has shown us. We have enjoyed occasional weekend trips spending time with Marie's family in Lockhart. My parents have made a couple of trips down to Austin to visit and get to meet Marie's family. We're excited and busy doing the wedding planning stuff (well mostly Marie but I put in my two cents). I'm working as a project manager for a residential construction company and Marie is still at UT working for the law school as an event coordinator. We've become more active in our church and are currently taking a nearly and newly wed class through the church which is opening our eyes and giving us new insight into marriage. We're also playing in a flag football league which has been lots of fun. We're staying busy to say the least!

Bueno Bueno!