About Ashley & Dustin How We Met Well... we don't really remember the first time we met! We basically grew up together because our brothers, Aaron and Wesley, have been best friends since they started school. Dustin and I went to the same elementary school and the same high school. He was one year ahead of me and the boy I had a crush on since the fourth grade! He's the first boy I held hands with.. .haha I know its corny but its true! We have dated on and off since my freshman year of high school. What can I say... if it's meant to be... it's meant to be... When We Got Engaged August 15, 2008 How It Happened

First, I have to tell you that I was away three months this summer doing my intership at Bald Head Island. So Dustin and I only saw each other about three times all summer.
August 15th was the day I moved home from the beach and my parents came down to help bring all of my things back. Well when we finally got home I was expecting Dustin to be there which he was along with most of my family. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and Dustin's parents and brother and sisters. Well Mom told me Dustin planned a surprise welcome home cookout with my family! Which I thought was great since I hadn't seen any of them all summer! So of course, I cried!

Well after everyone had eaten and we were all sitting around just enjoying everyone's company, Dustin asked me if I wanted to walk across the hill from Mom and Dad's to look at some deer that they had seen. But I told him I didn't want to go because I didn't want to leave everyone and be rude. Aaron said he would go though and that we wouldn't stay long so we started out over the hill. Halfway there, Aaron said he had to go back because his girlfriend was on her way. Dustin and I finally stopped on top of a hill that overlooks the New River.

Then Dustin told me to look in the opposite direction of the river and that was where the deer always come out. So I took the binoculars and watched for a while. I thought Dustin was acting a little unusual but I didn't think much about it. After watching two deer for about twenty minutes, I told Dustin I was ready to go back to the house. But he kept telling me just to wait because he knew the deers schedule and they would come out at a certain time. Haha!!! So he watched the river side with his back to me for a few minutes.

After a minute or so I heard Dustin messing around so I turned around to ask him what he was doing and he said he was just tying his shoe, aka, getting the ring box out of his sock! So I went back to deer watching and as soon as I did I heard a loud popping noise, I turned to ask Dustin what it was and saw fireworks!!! I said "What is that?" but before I could get it all out Dustin was on one knee and asking me to marry him!!! I cried so hard it felt like 10 minutes before I said yes!!!!