I had been looking for that special someone for a long time and Calvin had also been single for several years. Neither one of us saw the other one coming until it was too late.

I'm a cradle Catholic and have been a member of Saint James all my life. Out of all the places to meet the best man in the world I really didn't think it would be church. It's just too cliche and predictable and obvious.

But that's just what happened with us! In March of 2022, I was assisting with the 2nd grade Faith Formation class. As I was becoming more involved with the Church, I continued to notice this guy at various events. I asked a couple of friends about him and they told me that Calvin was the Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus. More importantly he was single.

So you're telling me that this guy who the men of our Church selected as their leader, is also around my age, Catholic, and single.

It's too good to be true, and there is no way he would ever be interested in me. My friends Colleen and Lauren kept encouraging me to go out with him, saying he liked me and we would be a good match. I said I would consider it if we could all to out together like a group date.

Well, eventually the opportunity presented itself at Trivia Night at Kingfisher Lodge. My team was kicking butt and I was feeling so good that I felt the urge to talk to him and asked him to go to dinner and bowling with our mutual friends.

He cheerfully accepted! The next week we were eating Mexican and bowling very badly. We didn't talk to each other very much that night. Both of us too shy, I suppose.

But as we were headed to our cars he asked me to coffee the next day.

We sat at Strange Brew for 2 hours talking about each others lives. It was definitely looking positive and hopeful for us beginning a relationship.

We both have a common interest in sports of all kinds so a lot of our dates centered around attending baseball, basketball, football and even soccer games ranging from high school all the way to pro events.

There was one minor, potential problem with our "love story"; Calvin's a long-time Ole Miss fan. I'm a life long State fan (Southern Miss and Baylor too), but mostly State.

Well, how the hell is this going to work!? There is one big difference in Calvin and every other Ole Miss fan; he is not a jerk about it. Calvin is the most considerate man I've ever met. He knows it would hurt my feelings if he rubbed in an Ole Miss victory.

We even went to an Egg Bowl and I didn't break up with him afterwards! What a miracle!

It hasn't always been all fun and sports however. On one of our early dates to the Blue Suede Cruise Car Show here in Tupelo, Calvin opened up to me telling me of his dad's brain tumor and prolonged illness.

Over our time together, I spent as much time as I could helping Calvin and his family with his father. Mr. Cal couldn't talk that much and in addition he didn't have much mobility on his right side.

We watched his condition deteriorate, as we knew closer as a couple. Unfortunately, we lost Calvin's father in October of 2023.

However, Calvin did present me with a "promise ring" for my birthday in December of 2022, soon after while visiting with Mr. Cal, he noticed the ring and lit up with a smile. Calvin and I think for the last several months of his father's life, he thought we already were either engaged or married.

After Mr. Cal's passing, in December of last year for my birthday Calvin and I visited the Marriott hotel in Florence along with dinner at the 360 Grille.

While in Florence, Calvin proposed and of course I said YES!

Registry