We're Getting Married!

We met in July 2020 at a mutual friend's gathering. We soon became close and went on a road trip with a group of friends to Texas in June 2021. We became inseparable after multiple nights of talking on the deck. Towards the end of the trip Josh asked me to go on a date when we returned home, he wanted to show me Duluth because it meant so much to him. At the end of that little trip on July 4th, 2021, we started dating. Josh sparked my love for Duluth and going on adventures, soon the Duluth area became special to me. Josh was going to school in Duluth and I was attending school in Winona. We are no strangers to distance, but we knew that this relationship was worth the hardship of distance. Dating through the phone and only seeing each other on weekends and vacations was difficult, but we always made the most out of our time together. Throughout our adventurous relationship, we built a strong bond and realized that we were each other's forever person. I graduated college and Josh graduated the following semester, everyone knew it was just a matter of time until we were engaged. But little did I know, it would be the day after he graduated.

A few days before the big day, I was in the car heading to Duluth for Josh's graduation. I was with his parents and everything seemed normal. I had no idea that I would be engaged by the end of the weekend, nor did I know the ring was sitting behind me during the trip up north. I was able to watch Josh walk across the stage that Saturday, I was engulfed with the feeling of gratitude because I was able to share his big accomplishment with his loved ones that the thought of getting engaged the next day never crossed my mind. We concluded that day by spending it with each other, just happy to be in each other’s company. The day started off like any typical Sunday, we attended our church and had lunch after. Josh and I both had things to do, but I pushed off my school duties to take a nap. When I woke up, Josh suggested hiking along the North Shore. I was hesitant because it was cold and windy, but he was eager- so I agreed. We were walking and I saw some signs with history of the location, so I stopped to read them. But I could tell Josh was excited about something and I assumed to just keep walking, so I stopped reading and was ready to continue. Josh then suggested I read the last sign, so I did, with my back turned to him. I soon heard him say my name and I turned around seeing him get down on one knee. I instantly started screaming with excitement. Throughout the emotions, tears, kisses, and hugging, I said "YES, OF COURSE!". Our walk back included me jumping up and down screaming to the world that we were engaged, and Josh beaming with excitement. We called our loved ones on the way back excited to share the news.