Josh and I met sophomore year of college at Colorado School of Mines. We had some classes together and mutual friends, but didn't really get to know each other until some of my sorority sisters encouraged me to ask him to be my date to our sorority's Formal. After the night of Formal, we spent the next couple weeks talking every day and taking long walks by Clear Creek, where we really got to know each other. Our connection was obvious, and after those two weeks, we were officially "together". We grew as a couple and supported each other through our last two years of college and internships. As we entered senior year, we knew we wanted to continue our relationship after college, so we both started applying for jobs in Houston, since that was the most likely place we could end up together. Our plan worked out, and we both received our job offers in Houston the same day! After graduation, we spent a month together traveling across Western Europe with just our backpacks, and had the time of our lives exploring new places daily and working together as a team. How much we enjoyed being together nonstop during that month and how well we worked together and made decisions further established our love and compatibility as a couple. We moved to Houston in August 2014, where we have been working in the oil and gas industry, and constantly adjusting to different rotation schedules, periods of long distance, etc. Our family has grown by three with the addition of our kitties (Paws, Regal, and recently Tobey). Josh and I love to travel and experience new places and cultures, and have visited 16 different countries together over the past 6 years, including Thailand, Japan, Costa Rica, Greece, Italy, and Germany. We plan on honeymooning in New Zealand and look forward to exploring more of the world together throughout our marriage.

Though it was not entirely a surprise, Josh made the proposal especially romantic and meaningful to our relationship. He flew me to Denver from Houston (he was already in Denver at the time) for a weekend trip in June, and arranged for my sister and mom to pick me up from the airport and bring me to Clear Creek in Golden, where we spent the majority of our time getting to know each other at the beginning of our relationship. My sister, mom, and I spent a few minutes walking along the creek, and I was not surprised when I eventually saw Josh standing by the creek, waiting for me, next to the spot where we had our first kiss. Both excited and anxious about what was about to happen, I walked up to him, and Josh proceeded with his heartfelt speech and got down on one knee. Without hesitation, I said yes. It was hands down one of the best moments of my life! I couldn't believe it was happening, and yet I didn't want it to end. Thankfully, his sister, Bethany, was very close by capturing the entire moment, so we have some amazing photos to always remember that day! But the excitement was not over. Josh then surprised me with an engagement party at his parents' house with some of our closest family and friends. We spent the next few hours celebrating with everyone, and then drove up to Breckenridge, where we spent the next day celebrating together. Josh definitely succeeded in creating an amazing proposal and weekend for us. He is undoubtedly one of the best, most caring and selfless people I know, and I cannot wait to marry him.