Growing up in Yakima, it was a surprise that our paths didn't cross sooner than when we met our first day of high school, in Mrs. Lomardi's geometry class. Our first real experience together was a school dance freshman year- TOLO, which Abby has labeled the most awkward high school dance she ever attended. We both played it cool for the next couple years, occasionally working together in class, exchanging corny jokes at sporting events, or seeing each other at friends' houses. Junior year of high school, Abby was a coordinator for Mr. IKE, a charity pageant which raises money for a local children's health facility, and Holden was elected as a contestant. Between the boys' volleyball tournament and early morning dance practices, our friendship grew and overtime turned into something more. The rest seems like history! We both found our home in Spokane at Gonzaga- Holden for Golf and Abby for nursing school. Even though we weren’t all that far from home, we always knew we had a little piece of home wherever we were together.

After 7 years, the time had finally come to get down on one knee. We had been living apart while Abby was working in Spokane and Holden was working in Yakima. It was a hot summer's day in July, Holden’s birthday weekend to be exact. Abby simply thought our friends were coming in from out of town to celebrate his birthday, unsuspecting of Holden’s secret plans. In standard Holden fashion a local winery that we “planned” on going to one evening was having a concert event and we were turned away at the front gate. The stage was set! On the way home, we took a slight detour and found ourselves steps from an orchard row, some 25 yards away laid a picnic blanket and a bouquet of flowers. Hand in hand, we walked between the apple trees completely filled with the moment. Holden dropped to a knee, nervously spoke words he had recited in his head over and over, and placed a ring on her finger. As we made our way out of the orchard, our families and friends cheering, ready to celebrate and raise a toast to our future together.