We're getting married!

How we met and became friends: The first time I saw Joel, I remember thinking how cute he was. I was hanging out with a new friend the first week of high school in 2009 when Joel and his friend came up to us. Thomas had a thing for my friend Sam, and Joel and I were the awkward ones out. Joel had this phone called a Juke. I took it and was trying to tap him on the cheek with it but I accidentally hit him in the eye. I was so embarrassed! I apologized and we went on our separate ways. The next time I met him I was waiting outside the front of the school with my friend Cash who was introducing me to his friends Brandon and Daniel. Later Daniel became my best friend. While we where talking I was playing with a little stem from the tree and I knotted it up and tossed it behind me. The next thing I hear is "Ow!". I turn around and the cute guy I had met the other day was covering his eye again and I knew it was because of me. I apologized to him and then the bell rang so we went to class. The third time I met him I was standing in front of our school elevator talking with my hands like I do and I flung my hand back and hit something and heard once again "Ow!". I turn around and low and behold it's the cute guy from the previous days; I had hit him in the same eye again. I told him "Obviously the universe wants us to be friends or you will lose an eye". After that I never hit him in the eye again and we have been friends ever since.

Joel had just graduated high school in 2012 and that summer I went off on different adventures. We really started missing each other. When I went to Taiwan to visit my Dad and other family, he really wanted to pick me up from the airport when I returned so I agreed. He came and got me from the airport and was being so dorky and smiley. When we got on the road he kept looking at me as we talked and I told him to watch the road. He said he couldn't help it, he had missed me so much. When we got to my house we hung out outside on the hood of my car for a while. It was late at this point (past midnight). He kept staring at me and the next thing I know, we are kissing under the stars. Joel went back to the oil rigs and I started my senior year. Memorial Day weekend Joel came and picked me and his brother Cole up to go camping at Glendo Lake in Wyoming; I guess you could say that was our "first date". We got to see new sides of each other; it was a memorable weekend. After that we had to figure out what this all meant for ourselves and our friendship. Neither of us wanted to risk losing the other but we decided to explore more of what was between us. We haven't had the easiest of relationships but we both knew there was no one else we wanted or cared for more. We started off doing long distance visiting each other when we could, and finally, after 2+ years of long distance, Joel decided to move back to Colorado and we have been together ever since.

I got the ring a good 10 months before I finally popped the question. 2018-2019 was some tough times for us but things started falling into place. At Michelle's baby shower I finally got an opportunity to talk to Liz's BFF; we started planning Liz's birthday. Julia was going to take Liz out for a spa day and then to dinner where I would surprise her and purpose. We would then meet up with our family as an additional surprise. Shortly before Liz's birthday, Julia got amazing news and received a kidney transplant. She was no longer able to take Liz out for her birthday. We were all really happy for Julia but I had to come up with another plan. I contacted my mom and Liz's aunt and we got everything arranged. I took her out for the day and we did the things she wanted to do and stopped where she wanted to spend extra time. My mom was able to coax her into getting her nails done under the premise that it was her birthday and she deserved it! Liz had always told me "Whenever you propose...you just make sure my nails are done!". We had a wonderful day and got to enjoy some Joe's Crab Shack as our day came to blissful end. After dinner we went off to Liz's aunt's house in Aurora where we had family on stand-by for "a birthday celebration and cake". Little did Liz know she was about to be havin' her cake and eating it too. After hello's and brief heart-felt reunions, we hopped to the back porch so we could all hang out and sing Happy Birthday. After happy applause and excited "Woo-hoo's!" I tried to calm my nerves as I prepared myself to ask my best friend one of the most important questions that would matter in either of our lives. Once I finished my rambling and fumbling of words and emotions, I dropped down to one knee and proposed with the ring I had had for nearly a year. Our relationship has had its up and downs but no matter what, we always find our way back together. We love each other so much and cant wait to start this next adventure together!