Haley and Josiah grew up in the same town, only two years apart in age. Their parents were/are teachers in the same school district, so, being friends since childhood was inevitable. They were good friends in high school. A big thanks to Mike and Tina Nelson allowing friends (Josiah with Dalton and Haley with Karyssa,) to spend countless hours playing games and talking in their home on Friday and Saturday nights. They never dated in high school, with Josiah saying he was always interested because Haley was such a kind friend. College years came and Josiah went away first to Carroll College in Helena, MT then Haley to MSU in Bozeman and Billings, MT. Josiah finally built up the courage to ask Haley on a date date during a Christmas break while both were home. They sat at Montana Coffee Traders for almost 5 hours that day talking! The date went so swimmingly neither thought it necessary to ask the other on a second date for two more years. It wasn't until Parker (Haley's brother) was in track and Josiah was teaching at Flathead High School and also coincidentally was coaching track that they would chat every time the two teams were at the same track meets. Parker graduated that year (2019) and Josiah and his parents came to his graduation party. At the graduation party, Josiah asked Haley if she wanted to go out to drinks with friends. She was nervous and said maybe...but they ended up meeting up at Rivers Edge Park to walk Maverick (Josiah's dog) the next day instead! They have talked every day since then and officially began dating in August of 2019, but had to spend the next several months long distance because Haley was finishing her Senior year of college in Billings, MT. They made it work with lots of phone calls/FaceTime and quick weekend trips to Columbia Falls or to Billings. When Covid hit, Haley got to move home sooner than expected, and they finally got to experience their relationship while living in the same town again! The relationship was a natural fit for both of them, with passions for rafting, camping, hunting, and skiing being a connecting point. This led to a true love for each other built on adventuring in nature with their two dogs and the wandering river as their guide into love and partnership.

02/12/22 Josiah proposed at the summit of Loveland Ski Area in Colorado. From Haley: We went to the summit to take pictures with the gorgeous mountain view in the background. Our friends Connor and Miranda got their pictures taken first, then Miranda, Maggie, and I; finally Josiah and I. After we had had a bunch of photos taken, I started walking away thinking we were all done, when Josiah pulled me back to him and got down on one knee!! The moment I had been dreaming of my whole life! I was completely surprised! I had a hunch it was going to be soon based off conversations with him and friends a few weeks before. Miranda, Connor, Maggie, and Riley were with us to take pictures and document the whole thing. Afterwards we took more pictures and then kept skiing! We were both on cloud 9! I am not sure I remember any of the ski runs we took that afternoon, because I just kept replaying that moment in my head! SKI TRIP 02/10/22: Drove from Columbia Falls to Billings 02/11/22: Drove from Billings to Georgetown, CO. Took us 12 hours instead of 8 because of a snow storm that came through Denver! It took us 4 hours to go 45 miles! 02/12/22: We went skiing and at 1:00:04 pm Josiah popped the question at Ptarmigan Summit House! 02/13/22: We skied again until about 1pm that day then packed up and drove to Billings. 02/14/22: First Valentine's day ENGAGED! We drove from Billings, back home and had dinner with Nacona, Steve, Denise, Jinise, Nathan, and Jameson!