I asked Lorangen to be my wife not too long ago. That doesn’t mean everything is official however, because I have yet to ask her parents for their blessing. It’s not that I didn’t want to ask or that I didn’t want to be trapped in a binding agreement; I knew that it would be a tough sell. Sure, I am strikingly handsome and incredibly charming, but parents want to know that you can provide for their daughter. So, I decided to wait until after I got a job offer until I made an official request.

OCR started about a month ago, and it’s been a very trying four weeks. Some people only have to deal with their own disappointment. Others contend with the disapproving glares of parents. I was faced with not only my own expectations and those of my family, but a huge responsibility to my fiance. Some nights before a big interview I’d lay in bed, and consider all that would have to be postponed if I failed. Our wedding, our family, and our future, would all have to be delayed if I were to fail. This fear was something new and gnawing, but stirring.

Spurred on by dreams, I tried harder and harder with each successive interview. I researched each company more extensively than the last. I thought long and hard about how I should answer questions, and how I should act during interviews. If I hadn’t had this dream in my heart, I don’t know that I would’ve committed so much time and effort. When I was in high school, my primary objective was to get into a good college. What’s funny is that once I started college, I forgot that my primary objective was to get a good job. Lisa reignited my fire for success.

Well, I got good news today, so we can finally get officially engaged! We’re getting married!