I got to be a part of something truly special. Oh my, how do I even begin… To know Rachel is to love her. She exudes joy, happiness, and she makes everyone feel special. She loves a good party or reason to dress up in fun attire. Rachel loves to laugh, and she loves her tribe fiercely. I met Rachel as a pediatric intern coming through the Hematology/Oncology Department at work where I am a Nurse Practitioner. I just knew we were going to be friends! Let me back up a little and tell you more about Rachel and how she ended up in Birmingham.

Rachel is from Mooresville, NC, a town located north of Charlotte and known for being the home of NASCAR. Rachel is a North Carolina girl and Tar Heel born and bred. All of her family still lives in North Carolina. She went to UNC for college, Medical College of Georgia for medical school, and came to Birmingham for pediatric residency at UAB.

Rachel visited several tourist spots during her first visit to Birmingham. She went to the top of Red Mountain to the Vulcan to pray over the city that she hoped would soon be hers. She also prayed about finding her future soulmate. Oh, how I love that Rachel made it a point to speak life and hope over the city that she would be living in. I think it’s so important to speak into our hopes and dreams. There is no prayer too big or small for the Lord. I know he truly hears the desires of our hearts.

Now, as for Kevin! Kevin is from Tampa, FL and many of his family members still live there. He went to Davidson College for undergraduate, FSU for medical school, and is currently at UT Memphis for residency in Otolaryngology (ENT). Kevin is a perfect match for Rachel! She describes him as fun and the life of the party!  He is loved by everyone. She loves how he loves her and has pursued her since day one. He makes me her laugh every single day, even on the very worst days.

Well... how did they meet? Rachel and Kevin met at a beach bar called the Windjammer in Charleston, SC. They were at a mutual friend’s wedding. Kevin started talking to Rachel at the party and they to hit it off! He bought her a PBR and they spent the rest of the night talking! At the wedding, they danced the night away and their first kiss was during the last song of the wedding, "Hooked on a Feeling". He got her number and the rest is history.

They had amazing conversations the following weeks until their first date in Birmingham. Kevin drove 8 hours round trip from Memphis to Birmingham for a marathon first date before Rachel worked an ER shift overnight. They spent the day going to all of Rachel’s favorite places in Birmingham. When he picked Rachel up, they were wearing the same exact outfit… plaid shirt, jeans, and a Barbour jacket. It was the first of many times that they have inadvertently matched, much like the day they got engaged *hint hint*. Rachel knew that she had to take him to the Vulcan. They walked the grounds with the beautiful fall leaves, shared some sweet kisses in the crisp breeze with the breathtaking view, and an older couple took their picture completely unprompted. Rachel said the date was magical. Rachel even texted a few of her friends later that she thought she had met “the one!”  Needless to say, after the date, Rachel went to work with the biggest smile on her face!

Now about that *hint* from earlier….Kevin contacted me through email to help him set up a top-secret surprise engagement photo session! I was bursting with excitement that I knew his little secret and I could not have been happier to be a part of this special time in their lives. There is no one more deserving than Rachel! Kevin and I exchanged several emails and phone calls to set this up! We even FaceTimed hours before the “big question” to make sure I was going to be hiding in the perfect spot!

They have been together 16 months. They had talked about getting married one day and looked at rings, but Rachel had NO IDEA that it was coming this soon! The engagement day could not have been more perfect! As you remember, it rained for like 2 months here in Alabama, but that evening was beautiful. The sun came out and it was 75 degrees! Kevin took Rachel to one of the overlooks and told her all of the things he loved about her and how he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. I was hiding behind the building and snuck out to capture their proposal! Oh my goodness, it was such a beautiful moment! Of course, she said “YESSSS!!!”

Rachel and Kevin are looking forward to enjoying their engagement for now and once Rachel finishes residency in early Summer, she will move to Memphis, TN for fellowship in Pediatric Palliative Care. Kevin will be finishing up his ENT residency as well. They would love to be close to family, whether that is in North Carolina, Florida, or Tennessee and will have to see where they can both find jobs in the next few years!

It’s crazy to think that I did this photo session several weeks ago when things were “normal”. I feel like there is a new normal right now that everyone is trying to navigate through. The COVID-19 virus has definitely taken its toll on lots of people whether that be physical, mentally, or emotionally. I thought a happy story inspired by faith was just what we needed. Even during times of the unknown, we could all use a story about faith, hope and love.