We planned a fall escape to the Lake of the Ozarks, hoping to be wrapped in the warmth of autumn’s colors. But the rain never came that season— only my queen did. The lake shimmered below, the rapids whispered through the bluffs, and the crystal-blue springs mirrored the sky. I wanted her to see it all, to hear the heartbeat of the water, to stand where earth and sky meet in harmony. And there, behind us, rose the ruins of an old stone castle— ancient, quiet, and timeless. It was there, in that forgotten fortress of dreams, that the queen of my life said yes to her king. In that moment, we began to build a kingdom of our own. We laughed together about the name of the place— Ha Ha Tonka— her voice dancing with joy as she asked, “Wait, how do you say it again?” Our laughter echoed through the hills, a melody that would linger forever. Later, hand in trembling hand, we drove through winding mountain roads to the Bridal Cave. Inside, the earth opened like a cathedral— columns of stone, rivers of light. An older couple told us, “Savor every moment,” and so we did. We recreated our engagement there, though no light could ever rival the golden glow of that mountaintop “yes.” We lingered behind the tour, alone beneath the earth, watching the blue spring river run beneath us— a sacred current carrying our promise forward. When we stepped back into the sun, another lake awaited us, as if nature itself was blessing our love again and again. We wandered further— beneath the St. Louis Arch, through the quiet lanes of Amish Country, where we found a quilt stitched with a great purple heart. A symbol of our own love— intricate, patient, and made to last. And when we returned home, we stood once more by the lake at Babcock Ranch— the place where we first called each other boyfriend and girlfriend. There, surrounded by the calm of familiar waters, we felt the circle complete. From one lake to another, from one heart to two, the current had always been leading us here.