We're getting Married!

A kind young man and a lovely young woman both looking for someone their age in their evening Bible study. Slowly they got to know each other and their friendship began to grow. However once Courtney began graduate school in 2016 and Jeff moved churches the two lost touch for several years. Not long into the COVID pandemic Jeff reached out and they reconnected (though they both disagree on how long it took Courtney to respond back lol). After reconnecting by phone for several months Jeff offered to drive to Phoenix to meet up. Courtney quickly agreed and Jeff met her for the first of many of their weekend adventures together. Their conversation flowed easily on that first meet-up and the rest is history.

If you know Jeff, you know he loves to capture all his adventures with amazing photos and was eager to surprise Courtney. If you know Courtney, you know she can be challenging to surprise. Jeff and Courtney had recently relocated to Flagstaff earlier in 2024 and had begun to take evening outdoor walks. Wanting to propose at Buffalo Park, Jeff planned out his proposal but chose to time it just several days after Courtney’s birthday to keep her from predicting the surprise. Jeff made his plans for a proposal and an evening walk at Buffalo Park to get a good view of the peaks. Jeff insisted on bringing their dog as an excuse to pull away on their walk. Unbeknownst to Courtney, earlier in the week on her birthday, Jeff had begun taking pictures with the ring around Courtney. There were pictures with her and the ring at her birthday dinner, on their evening walk at Buffalo Park on her birthday, and at dinner prior to the proposal. Jeff asked to go to the right towards the bridge instead of their usual path. Once they arrived at the bridge, they met several people leading to Jeff having to deviate from his original plan and having to walk farther before looping back to the bridge. Finally, the bridge cleared as they walked across. Jeff pulled back to ‘correct’ their dog causing Courtney to look back where she found Jeff on one knee. Jeff said, “Courtney Garvin will you marry me?”. This is where Courtney and Jeff’s recollection of the next several minutes varied. Courtney believes she said yes and hugged him then proceeded to inform family and friends. Where Jeff reports that Courtney immediately began to call family and friends. No matter who was version of the events was right…so began their next adventure….