It Only Took 11 Years!

I first saw Lindsey the moment she went over the precipice of the falls, scarred, befreckled arms flailing, looking for some sure hold to grasp. Struggling for breath, she was swept over the side, disappearing from sight. I leapt into action without thinking. Adventure Speedo riding high, Teva's strapped tight. I grabbed the nearest vine and swan-dived into the abyss. I saw her beautiful (blue?) eyes in freefall, held out my hand as the vine became taught and we swung in a tight embrace to the nearest cliff. I proposed right then and there... ....No, an eventful but still butterfly and sweaty palm inducing start to a wonderful, eventful life together. That's usually how I describe the beginning of our relationship. No amazing story, no Capulet's and Montague's. Just a couple of people becoming friends and eventually falling in love. It was the events and moments that followed our kindled flame that will be our story. And a decade later we're beyond excited to have you all be a part of putting it on paper. If you are reading this (you too, Lindsey) I love you, and I'm so excited for this day. Thank you for being a part of it.

Jesse and I had always surrounded ourselves with the same group of people. It started in high school and we spent many years sharing the same stories, going to the same parties, and having the same teachers. It wasn't until later into our early twenties that we really connected. We traded stories of our experiences and friends and realized that we were telling the same story from different perspectives. I became intrigued by his intelligence and wit and decided I needed to continue this relationship for as long as I could. I began to find ways to spend time with him by getting his friends to invite him out when he clearly wanted to go home. I knew, if I could convince him to come out for one drink, we would end up spending the entire night together having the most amazing conversations and debates. Eventually, he invited me to be part of his life and introduce me to his family. I've never been more impressed with such a loving and beautiful group of people. From the first moment I met his mother, her shoving a freshly made berry smoothie into my face, to meeting his laid-back dad, dancing in the living room to his favorite DVD, Stop Making Sense by The Talking Heads, I knew immediately that I was loved and that I could belong in such an amazing family. We've spent the last eleven years together, laughing, crying, planning, and loving and we clearly can take on the challenge of time. So many people say you have to have fights and be challenged in order to know that your relationship can stand against all the tests, all I can say is, it's been so easy for us. We have been through so much together and we have always still thought of our relationship as easy, and it really is. I cannot imagine being with anyone else, he makes me feel like I can be the absolute person that I am. He pushes me to create my art, he empowers me to be the strong woman that I am, and he never makes me feel unappreciated. I am so excited to have this incredible man be a part of the rest of my life, and I am so happy to have all of you be a part of this amazing union. I love you all so much and this is going to be the best day of our lives. And I know now, that I will keep this relationship going for as long as I possibly can.

We have such a tight, amazing friend group that I knew from the start that I wanted them involved in the proposal. Getting everyone together in one spot isn't an easy task, so I came up with the idea of hijacking one of my best friend's wedding and making it all about us. Genius. I called Mike and very, very, gently floated the idea by him and asked him to very, very, gently present the idea to his lovely fiance, now wife. Thankfully, Veronica is such a lovely, beautiful, amazing, generous...beautiful person that she not only allowed me to do it, but helped me put the pieces together. Still can't believe we pulled it off, every freaking person in Sandpoint and especially at the wedding knew my machinations. At a lovely brunch the morning after the wedding - all of our closest friends in attendance - I got down on the knee and asked the question that I knew the answer to. Even though there wasn't a doubt, I still couldn't keep my voice and hands from shaking. Thank you Mike and Veronica for an incredible weekend, and a life-changing brunch, you guys are the best!