We're getting married!

Will grew up in Massachusetts, but moved with his family to Maine in elementary school. Lisa moved to Maine just before high school in 2005 where their paths crossed first at golf practice. They didn't talk much, but knew of each other. Sophomore year of high school Will sat behind Lisa in AP European History and would use the basket under Lisa's seat as a foot rest. That's when she noticed him. They became friends over the course of the year. Continuing to grow closer and closer, Brittany (see wedding party) encouraged them to go to Junior Homecoming together. They attended the football game and the bonfire where they shared their first kiss wrapped in a blanket. After the homecoming dance the next day, Will asked Lisa out, but she (stupidly) said no. They went about their way and remained friends for the next several months. During Spring Break in April 2008, Will headed off on a college search with his mom and Lisa was getting ready to do the same. They texted back and forth until they finally concluded that they should give this thing a shot. They continued to date through high school and attended the University of Vermont together. At the end of college, they applied to graduate schools. They ended up long-distance for two years while Lisa attended Loyola University Chicago for her Master's in Higher Education and Will started his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering at the University of Michigan. When Lisa finished her graduate program she moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan to live with Will for the first time and, later, with their dog Beau in tow.

Lisa and Will often take walks after work with Beau. They decided to check out a new spot in Ann Arbor, Bird Hills Nature Area. They walked up and down and around the various trails encountering very few people. They eventually stopped at a bench up on a hill overlooking the path behind them. Lisa wanted to get up and continue walking after Beau had his water and chewed his fair share of sticks. Will wanted to continue to sit for a little bit. Will began talking about work and school and the upcoming job search. When he finally said he was excited for the next chapter and reached for the ring in his pocket, Lisa finally caught on. When he struggled to get it out of his pocket, Lisa asked if he'd lost it. She said, "yes!" and so that brings us here. It was a simply beautiful moment, a decade in the making.