We grew up in church together, but it wasn't till high school that we both knew that we liked each other and would text all the time! We loved to hang out at youth group, go ice skating together, and play volleyball with our friends. Sadly, I friend-zoned Ben and we went our separate ways for a little over a year. Right before I went to college, Ben and I talked for the first time in a while (while we were watching the stars at the cabin) and we both decided that we still really liked each other! Ben took me on our first date to Kendall Yards, and eventually asked me to be his girlfriend on a cruise on Lake Coeur d'Alene. We've done long distance during the school year and spent the summers together ever since!

This last summer, on July 10th, I was at the lake cabin with my family, but Ben convinced me to come into town for a picnic in Manito park. We had the best picnic by the pond, and then he took me to the Palisades Park city overlook where my whole family, his family, and my best friends were waiting for us. They were lined up in age order, and as I walked down the line they each read to me a memory from our relationship that Ben had written. At the end of the line he was waiting for me with flowers and the ring where he got down on his knee and asked me to marry him!