John and Michelle share a story that spans continents and time zones. Their love story begins at the familiar backdrop of their college campus, where fate interceded on Saint Patrick's Day, weaving their lives together through mutual friends. After college, Michelle embarked on an adventure across the seas, moving to Asia for five years. Yet, distance couldn't dim the connection John and Michelle shared. Each time Michelle returned home, their bond rekindled. It was during one of these visits that Michelle shared her readiness to return home. From that moment, their conversations grew more and more frequent, bridging the gap of time zones as they navigated late-night calls and early-morning chats, weaving the fabric of their future together. John had recently settled in Colorado in pursuit of powder-covered mountains for snowboarding and extended a heartfelt invitation for Michelle to move in with him. Through Zoom and FaceTime, they found their first perfect little apartment and signed a lease with one of them 8,232 miles away! In March of 2019, Michelle arrived in Colorful Colorado. From that moment, their lives intertwined seamlessly, filled with laughter and endless adventure. In October of 2023, Michelle's entire immediate family, brother, sister in law, niece Juniper, and mom and dad, decided to come to Colorado for their first visit all together! October is the time of year they usually all meet in Florida at one of their favorite places, the Suwannee, for a weekend of music and camping. With the switch to Colorado, they decided their week together needed an official title- JuneGrass 2023. Shirts were even made for all of us to commemorate this week of fun (both absolutely ridiculous and adorable). During their first JuneGrass weekend, they ventured to Rocky Mountain National Park for a day of hiking. As they arrived at the entrance, the park ranger greeted them with a heartfelt wish and a wink- "I hope all your dreams come true today." Little did they know, his words would soon resonate in the most magical way. Without a specific hike in mind for the rest of them, John suggested (some might say insisted) we ventured towards Dream Lake. Following a breathtaking trek, we arrived at the serene spectacle of Dream Lake. With the shimmering waters as their backdrop, John suggested a photo facing the water. But as Michelle turned back around, a scene of pure magic unfolded—John, on one knee, and a ring in hand. The moment, witnessed by their family, including Michelle’s sweet niece Juniper, dancing and playing amidst the rocks in the middle of it all. It was a moment beyond words, leaving Michelle (and one member of the family) utterly surprised, and in an instant, all their dreams coalesced into reality—a love story unfolding amidst the majestic beauty of Dream Lake, forever etched in their hearts.