My baby sis is engaged to the love of her life!! | Spring City, TN

I may or may not be the worst sister in the world, posting an engagement announcement blog two whole months after it actually happened, but hey, let's hope it counts that I am finally getting around to it. It is a surreal feeling typing these words as I am still trying to wrap my head around the idea that my sister is getting married soon. Watching Evan and Gracie over the years has been such a sweet and long journey. They started out purely as friends (thanks to me) and what started as innocent friendship soon turned to more, even though they *technically* could not one-on-one date until Gracie reached the age that my parents allowed us to do so which only forced them to remain friends and get to know each other on a deeper level. As the years went by and the friendship deepened, Gracie's feelings for Evan did as well. We all watched this gangly teenage girl who was once afraid to hold his hand in public mature into this beautiful young woman who was now "googly-eyed" for her man. The death of our dad impacted us all in different ways, but one thing that we were unsure of was how it would affect our relationships. Losing someone so incredibly close to you creates this cloud of uncertainty and confusion about many things, but it also creates new perspectives and certainties, and I think one of the biggest things for Gracie was that she knew without a doubt that she wanted Evan in her life to stay; as her protector, her provider, her confidant, but most importantly - her husband. From then on, it was ALL wedding talk. I was SO ready to see the day come where I would no longer have to look at a bare finger because I knew once that ring was on, planning would commence and she would stop asking so many nosey questions! Evan had the day planned out SO beautifully and I believe that it was truly the best thanksgiving we have ever had as a family! A lot of people have asked us or just assumed that these photos I snapped at the lake were right after she said "yes," but these were actually taken about six hours after they walked through the door as a newly engaged couple. I think that is the neatest thing because as a friend or random person who saw these photos, I would probably think the same thing mostly because this was the happiest I have EVER seen Gracie. I absolutely can not WAIT to see this glow again on their wedding day as she walks down the aisle to her forever. LOVE YOU BOTH SO MUCH!