Beginning our second year at Moorpark College, we had no idea what the year would bring. Both taking an Astronomy Class, we headed to the colleges observatory for a class activity to look through a telescope. I noticed once I was in the observatory, that Chance had been right behind me in line the whole time, and I instantly thought he was cute. When class was then dismissed and we were walking out to our cars outside the observatory to leave for the day. I hear "Did the sun look like a blob to you too?" and I turn around to Chance then introducing himself. We both had things we needed to get to, but there was a strong interest to keep the conversation going. We had to part ways, but both realized we didn't get each other's contact information. Luckily, our professor had set up a "star party" where students would be able to meet up at Frazier Park to look through telescopes without any city light interference. Both Chance and I were planning to attend with the hope that each other would be there. Chance brought his parents, and I brought my childhood best friend Hannah. I talked nonstop about our initial conversation to Hannah probably for the entire car ride and of all the possible what-if's that could happen when we arrive. Anyhow, we arrive and instantly find each other, while also meeting his parents! We ended up sitting on the back of Chance's dad's truck and talked ALL night. Finally, we exchanged contact information. Let's just say our favorite class was now Astronomy. We hung out any opportunity we could from then on. Our favorite memory besides the "star party" is our first real date when we walked to the park next to the college and talked for more than four hours. Since I had already met his family, Chance got to meet mine at a football game where Ellie (my sister) was cheerleading. It had been almost a month of us talking by then. It was such a special night, being that is when Chance asked me to be his girlfriend (10-27-17). Years later, we are now engaged and love reminiscing over those special moments that started it all.

For the first four years of our relationship Chance lived in Westlake Village and I lived in Fillmore. There was quite literally a mountain pass separating us called Grimes Canyon, in which we had to drive through in order to see each other. Every time we drove through it, I would tell Chance I think it would be cute to carve our names on the mountain. So chance decided his proposal would be to carve a heart with Chance and Emma Smith etched inside on the mountain side. We were driving from my parents house to his parents house, where I was thinking it was just a normal day. Chance starts talking about how there has always literally been a mountain between us and how we have overcome so many things together as we drive up towards the mountain. I think oh how sweet when listening to him. Then he pulls over the side of the road, where we are now on this curved out section on the mountain side. He gets out of the car, opens my door, and said let's go check out all the carvings and things on the mountain. At this point, I was not only confused, but starting to think something might be happening since this was out of the ordinary. I had sandals on, so I had to borrow his work shoes. He guides me over to this hillside trail and tells me to come up with him. I start shaking and asking him a million times "what's going on?" now knowing something must be happening. I start to make my way ahead of him and he motions for me to take a look at one of the carvings, saying, "this is my favorite one." I see the heart with our names and turn around to find him down on one knee. We both sort of blacked out during the moment as there was a rush of intense emotions, but of course I said YES! We just remember how elated we both were to finally experience such a special moment between the two of us that we had always dreamed of. We're so excited to celebrate this next chapter in our lives with all of you on our upcoming special day.