In August of 2016 my friend Brandon and I were traveling through Myanmar and Thailand. While taking a road trip through northern Thailand, we decided to spend a night at a small treehouse style hotel. Shortly after we arrived I was sitting down in the dining area enjoying the view of the mountains, when I looked over and saw this absolutely gorgeous girl come walking down the stairs. She had a beautiful smile on her face and I really wanted to say hello, but I was to shy. Luckily for me she said hello and introduced herself to me. This was the moment I met Som. It didn't take long after talking to her that I started to like her. The next day we checked out from the hotel, but first making sure to exchange contact info. A few days later Brandon and I were in Bangkok and I messaged Som knowing she lived there. Som and her friend Pun came into the city and we all had dinner together and toured around the city. The next day was our final day in Thailand. While taking a morning walk around our hotel, I messaged Som to see if she wanted to come into the city for a few hours and go to lunch. To my surprise and excitement she said yes, and I went and picked her up at the BTS Metro station. Som went to lunch with Brandon and I and than went with us to the airport to see us off. I remember saying my goodbyes to her at the airport and being sad, thinking I would probably never see her again. As time would tell, that thankfully wasn't the case. Despite living on different continents and opposite sides of the globe, we made it work and fell in love with one another. Now we both can't wait to be married and start our life together. It is so interesting where life leads us. I am so thankful life led me to meeting Som, on that warm day in a remote mountain village in Thailand.

Som and I went with our friends Derek and Sheila to the Island of Koh Mak. One evening while there Som and I had planned to go out for date night, something we love doing. We got dressed up in nice casual clothes. On our way to the restaurant I told her I wanted to stop off at this long pier so we could watch the sunset together. We sat together on the pier watching the Sunset. Som noticed I was very quiet and had a different look on my face. After sitting quiet for a minute, I looked right at her, got on one knee, told her how much I loved her, and asked her to marry me. After she said Yes I put the engagement ring on her finger and just like that we were engaged. It is a moment I will never forget and one I will always cherish. I love you Som