My husband, Ian, and I went to college with Josh, and we were so ecstatic to hear that he got engaged to Jody.
I can’t wait to share their story!
Josh and I went to high school together. 
We had one class together and he made fun of me through the whole class. I got spit wads in the hair and everything. We weren’t friends to say the least. He actually was trying to date one of my friends that didn’t want him at all. He embarrassed her many times with flowers and candies and balloons. We graduated from high school in 2003 and we all went our own ways.
Six years later, I discovered Facebook and naturally requested and accepted friend request from my high school class, as we all do. One of them was Josh.
We began talking and we had a date or two but we decided to just remain friends and he moved off to Lynchburg and I stayed home in Church Hill. I continued with college and raising my kids and him and I talked every now and then.
I always considered him my best friend after we first talked in 2009. It was easy to talk to him and tell him everything or just sit and not talk at all. I began struggling in my own life in 2012 and decided to text him and see if he would listen and he did, of course, because he was my friend.
He invited me to come visit him in Lynchburg one weekend and I took the invitation and made the four hour drive from Church Hill, TN to Lynchburg, VA. I was nervous the whole drive not knowing what was in store for me when I arrived. I couldn’t exactly just run home if things took a turn for the worst and I didn’t want to spend the weekend with him. Luckily, it was as if we picked up where we had left off. Like we had not been apart for three or four years.
We had always been in love with each other but we kept those feelings on the back burner til that weekend when we finally decided to just let things go and see where we ended up. That was the last of August or first of September of 2012.
By March 2013 we knew we we ready for the next step as we hated spending a week apart. One of us would make the four hour trip at least every other weekend. March 2013, we decided it was time for the kids, my kids, to experience Lynchburg because we knew that we’d eventually make the move here.
The three of us, the kids and I, were out of school for Spring Break and Josh had made Easter plans for us. It was Good Friday and Josh got off work early and came home to pick the kids and I up for lunch and a walk at one of the parks.
We ate lunch and got to the walking trail and he took out his camera and camera bag as he often does because he’s a photographer. He put his camera on and asked me to carry the bag as we walked and I did so because that’s what I do. We started making our way down the path and we stop as the kids run down to the river bank to throw rocks and he starts snapping pictures because that’s what he does.
He stops and asks me to get a filter out of the bag for him and I asked him where and what it was because I have no knowledge about photography except a camera takes pictures. He tells me to open the bag and it’s the small case with a pink note on it. I find it and pull it out and start to open it as I read the note that said, “Will you?,” with an arrow pointing to this shinny silver ring inside.
It took a moment for what was happening to register in my mind and I just stand there staring at it. He asked if I was going to open it and I couldn’t because I felt frozen. I started laughing as he took the case with the ring and opened it and asked if I was going to put it on. I’m guessing he secretly already knew the answer because he just put the ring on my finger. Lol I obviously didn’t mind though because I rarely take the ring off and we are now planning the wedding.
I left out the part where he called from work one day and asked what my ring size was and I caught on to his plan of the ring. I tend to believe anything someone tells me though and he knows that and told me he had bought me a Wonder Woman ring and I got a little upset because I knew what ring I wanted and it was not a Wonder Woman ring. I still can’t believe I fell for that! I think that’s it though. That’s our story. Lol
Venue: Emerts Cove BridgePhotography: Star Noir Studio – Knoxville Wedding Photographer
