We're getting married!

We met during the fall semester at Fresno State. I thought he was goofy; he was completely enamored. He complimented my flannel, I laughed and said thank you—and just like that, something small began that would quietly change everything. We got to know each other at field school, playing in the dirt, talking between work, slowly learning who the other was. Before long, we were spending more time together, and it felt like we had known each other forever. Time moved differently when we were together—always too fast. Conversation came easy. So did laughter. For him, loving me felt natural; for me, loving him felt just as effortless. I knew he was the one when his absence started to hurt. He knew I was the one the first time he saw me in class. Life didn't make things simple. We moved away for work and lived in separate counties for several months, but distance was never enough to keep us apart. We chose each other, again and again, making the drive between us worth it every time. What I love most about him is how easygoing he is, how he finds the good in everything, and how steady he remains when life feels chaotic. He always seems to know the right thing to say or do. What he loves most about me is my big heart. For our engagement, we traveled to the coast during his 30th birthday weekend so I could experience my first winery. He was quiet and a little anxious—which should have been my first clue. He asked for a photo, pointed off in the distance to distract me, and when I turned back, he was down on one knee. I cried, overwhelmed with love and joy. Now, as we step into marriage, we're grateful for where we began and excited for where we're going—ready to build a life together, grow through whatever comes, and grow old side by side.