Ashleigh

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:12-14 Eric and Ashleigh met online through the Christian dating site, Christian Mingle. For a few months they exchanged emails daily as friends, getting to know the little bits of information about each other's lives. Eric felt a connection and asked Ashleigh out on a date. On January 1, 2009, Eric met Ashleigh for the first time at Coastal Flats in Fair Oaks, though they ended up going to Macaroni Grill, a story you will have to ask Eric about. Instantly a connection was felt and an easy conversation continued into the wee hours of the next morning. Both dreading to say goodnight, they made plans to get together again the next evening.  For the next month, Eric and Ashleigh continued to see each other every weekend. On Super bowl Sunday Feb 1, 2009 Eric asked Ashleigh to be his girlfriend. In August of 2009, Eric made the decision to end the relationship; looking back now that decision is seen as a positive decision by both Eric and Ashleigh. God had areas that He needed to work through in both Eric and Ashleigh, that could only be done if each were alone. Throughout the next 6 months, Eric and Ashleigh evaluated the areas within their own heart that inhibit them and began to grow in maturity and in God. During the Snowmageddon 2010, an honest heartfelt conversation started between the two. Throughout the week, while trapped in their own homes, Eric and Ashleigh began to rediscover the new people that God had made them into during the last 6 months. Eric asked Ashleigh if he could meet her the moment the snow allowed him to travel. On February 14, 2011, Eric showed up at Ashleigh’s front step armed with two doses roses and a smile. Both parties had expected awkwardness; instead they felt a sense of familiarity and comfort. After a round of bowling, in which Ashleigh won (the one and only time) Eric took Ashleigh to a very fancy restaurant in downtown Fredericksburg, Old Town Steak and Seafood for dinner. While waiting for a table in the entry way of the restaurant Ashleigh was forced to stand extremely close to Eric due to lack of space. Before either knew what had happened, Eric and Ashleigh were in an embrace. Eric later described this moment as the moment he knew that Ashleigh was the one for him; it was as natural as breathing to have her in my arms. Similar to their first encounter Eric and Ashleigh closed the restaurant making casual light hearted conversation. Later that evening a serious conversation started between the two. The conversations centered on what they had learned about their previous relationship, why it ended and what they had learned the past 6 months about themselves. Eric vowed that if they were to try a relationship, it would be for forever. On February 16, 2010 Eric and Ashleigh started Chapter 2. The relationship was vastly different from Chapter 1 - it was as if they were two new and different people. Each month the couple grew closer and closer. In December of 2010, Eric took Ashleigh to New York City, her favorite city, to see the Christmas lights and to express for the first time in his entire life that he was in love, with her. On April 30, 2011 Eric again asked Ashleigh to accompany him to New York City, this time to see her favorite city in the full bloom of Spring. On the Bow Bridge in Central Park, Eric got on one knee and asked the woman he loved with all his heart to spend the rest of his life with him and she, as you know, said yes.