Adventure Awaits!

Kenny and I met during our first semester of college at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, FL. We happened to have back to back classes together that semester three times a week! Although they were small classes, I don’t remember Kenny being there (despite his claim that he sat only two spots down from me). While we were on separate paths that first year and didn’t immediately connect, we met again during the first semester of our Sophomore year, again having a class together. (Second chance at love, anyone?) When I walked into the classroom, Kenny was watching soccer on his iPad in the back row and I remember thinking “that guy looks kind of familiar and he’s into sports, I’ll try sitting next to him.” After a few months of study sessions together, bonding over the Mighty Ducks movies and sports in general, and intentionally signing up for more upcoming classes together - Kenny showed up at my apartment, roses and chocolate in hand, and asked me to be his Valentine. Of course I said yes!…and then immediately texted my friends to say “ummm I think this Kenny guy really likes me and I’m not sure what that means”. While he was the first to make a move, it definitely paid off. Just over a month later I liked him back just as much and we began dating in March 25, 2013. (And he asked me to be his girlfriend by revealing a hidden rose after taking me out to dinner and then to a rooftop restaurant overlooking the ocean). After 8 1/2 years of dating, including many years of long distance across states and even countries, Kenny asked the question I had been awaiting for quite some time on August 14,2021. We had started looking at rings on our 8th dating anniversary, and as much as I wanted to be surprised by the proposal, I figured there would be no way that would be possible considering we have both been together 24/7 throughout COVID and working from home from a small apartment. I figured I would definitely know when Kenny bought a ring, probably see it by accident, and definitely be able to feel his nervous vibe leading up to the proposal. Boy was I wrong! We have gone on many amazing international trips, but when we are traveling in the US, we often focus on National Parks (visiting over 20 since we started in 2016). In August 2021, we scheduled a visit to see my Dad in Cape Cod, pairing it with a trip to Acadia National Park. Little did I know, not only did Kenny have a ring, but he had already asked my parents for their blessing, and had asked my Dad many weeks earlier to come to Acadia with us to be a secret proposal photographer (in plain sight). Unbeknownst to me, as I was planning our hikes for the weekend, Kenny and my Dad were conspiring together to pick out the best potential proposal spots along our routes! After a few foiled plans (like someone else proposing RIGHT in front of us!), we were mid-hike overlooking a coastal beach when Kenny asked a passing hiker about the upcoming viewpoint, what the view was like, and if it was crowded. Once we reached the (amazing) viewpoint, Kenny asked me to show him a point of interest in the distance (getting me to turn around), grabbed a hidden ring from his backpack, and tucked it in his pocket! I turned around, expecting to pose for a picture (with Sushi in my arms), when my Dad pulled out his phone and said “oh wow, what a beautiful spot for a video”. I was super confused why he was videoing, until Kenny’s arm around me starting shaking, to which I then turned to see him down on one knee with the ring! I screamed in shock so loud that I caught him off guard, but once he gathered his thoughts, he asked the big question and of course I said YESSSS!! And every hiker we passed for the rest of the day got to hear me yell “HI! WE DON’T KNOW YOU AND YOU PROBABLY DON’T CARE, BUT WE JUST GOT ENGAGED!!!” ...and the rest is history!