From the very start, Mackenzie and Raymond pushed each other to be better versions of themselves. Meeting through a mutual friend snowboarding, they slowly but surely happened to be by each other's sides more and more adventuring across the state whether sailing, biking, snowmobiling, or otherwise. If you've been a friend of Mac or Ray these past few years, you've likely been invited to not only chill bonfires, but also roped into roof-building, yard-regrading, cabinet-manufacturing, tree-cutting, sink-plumbing, shower-tiling, and much more at one if not both of their houses. -- First of all, if you're reading this: thank you specifically for your time, efforts, and friendship no matter how big or small. Secondly: It has been incredible to see how the communities we've independently melded over the years support not only us as individuals, but as a couple too. Love each and every one of you so very much and looking forward to all there is to come together.

When I first decided to pull myself out of a slump three years ago by reaching out to an old friend about a snowboarding trip, I had no idea I was about to meet someone who would change my reality forever. From the moment I met her, I knew she was something special. I just didn’t realize how special she would become. Over the next year, while we helped each other navigate personal struggles and the quirks of owning our own homes (it's honestly dangerous how many projects we've encouraged each other to take on), we slowly started doing increasingly silly things - because we definitely, totally didn't like each other. Whether it was driving across the state just to catch a fleeting moment at a CRAM sailing event, or definitely not cuddling because “it’s standing up so it doesn’t count,” we were falling deeply in love. Not that we admitted it for a while, of course. Then, after a fateful off-grid cabin trip with friends (and maybe a little push onto a couch) we finally started dating. (Also, I may or may not have been talking to friends about this girl for over half a year… sorry, Ryan, for blabbing your ears off. 😅) These past two years of dating has truly been one of the most incredible times of my life. She inspires me daily to become a better man - whether that means putting 30,000 miles on my car in a year for all sorts of wild adventures, or simply cherishing the quiet moments with the ones we love. The way she pushes me to show up for others, to take leaps that used to feel too scary, and to dream bigger, I can't overstate how much she’s changed my life.

From my side of things, after a weekend of snowboarding and chatting on chairlifts, I was confident I found a great annual friend that I looked forward seeing again at the next annual XANR trip to Nubs Nob. (Sidenote: I learned the next year that he was in fact holding out on me, is a ~very~ good snowboarder, and simply eschewed the terrain park to stay by my side.) Feeling my mortality at the ripe age of 27, I initially took Ray's contact information to learn more about fostering and adopting children since his family has adopted 4 and fostered over 40 kids! In my head, I had to complete the reconstruction of my burnt house, find a salary job, and make countless personal improvements before even considering marriage. Ray was a wonderful conversationalist and a potential help if wanted to foster before having kids of my own; it wasn't until later that I realized he had other plans. After talking way too long as I attempted to make a superbowl party across the state (I did not in fact make it in time), we exchanged snapchats to follow each other's lives and push each other to be better versions of ourselves. I had no idea our little quip "as iron sharpens iron" during chairlift chats would be a part of the rest of my life. **TO BE CONTINUED**