We must have seen each other in passing many times for years before we actually even talked to the other. We both went to Leyden High School. I went to East and Ryan went to West. However, I would travel to West Leyden year round for the sports I was involved in. We knew the same group of people and did not live far from one another. Years after High School I went to have lunch with my coworkers and had this tall, blonde server take our orders. I never truly looked at him at that time. Then the tables turned and one night I was serving and that same boy, a little less sober this time, started talking to me. Again, I didn't truly look at him. He came again the next night, sober, and told me everything about me that he learned the previous night. Impressive. So I gave him a chance to simply hang out. Just friends. Right? Wrong. The moment I began to have feelings for him was when we were driving around and began singing the duet "Make You Smile" by +44. One of my favorite songs. And then that's when it all started to become something more.

We knew we belonged together and I gave Ryan 3 simple requests for when he did propose. 1. Make sure my nails are done. 2. Do not do it in front of a big crowd. & 3. Do NOT do it on a mountain. Reason being because my hands swell up when climbing in high altitude and would not be able to even put the ring on! Anyways..... We were heading to Mt. Bierstadt with a couple of our friends to hike this 14er (+14,000 feet tall). Ryan wanted to create a cardboard sign to take photos with the elevation of 14,060 FT. but because I have the better hand writing I insisted on doing it! During the climb up everyone was telling me to take my promise ring off, that my hands would swell too much and that they would have to remove the ring if it got too bad. I began overthinking it about and wondering, "Should I take it off?, "My hands do look worse than the last time.", "Oh, gosh. What if they're right?". But I never took it off cause I'm stubborn! We finally got to the top and wanted to take photos with the elevation sign. As Ryan and Myself get situated for the photo he pulls out a marker and turns the sign over. I am confused at first. Then I see the letter "W", knowing what he's writing, and I turn by back to him thinking "This little Shit, I told him not to do it on a Mountain!" I turn back around and he's on one knee and says "Will You Marry me?". With the ring only able to slide half-way down my swollen finger, I said Yes!