We first crossed paths in the digital world & after several conversations, we met for an in-person chat & movie. At the time, Maina's Wi-Fi hadn't been set up, but she had been collecting DVDs for years. Ezra picked the 2007 movie Sunshine, which happened to be one of Maina's favorites. Sometime during the movie, we both fell asleep on the couch. Ezra woke first to the sound of the movie's menu & instead of waking Maina, he let her sleep until the menu woke her as well. After an embarrassing apology & an awkward goodbye hug, Ezra left & unbeknownst, we both wanted to see each other again.

During December, Ezra asked Maina to request off a few days towards the end of January. When asked what for, he responded "Just to have some extra days off." January 24th came around & he casually suggested she pack a bag for the next day. Confused, she asked what for & he replied, "You'll see." After Maina's several attempts to get clues, all she managed to get out was "Pack warm." On January 25th, we drove north into the mountains; we pulled into a historic building's parking area with lights spilling from random windows, painted on the side in an elegant font, "The Hotel St. Nicholas." We got to our room & the first thing Maina noticed was the large windows with a door in between them. It led to an enclosed sun porch with a view overlooking the town. Not too far away, she could see a rainbow of Lights & asked if that's what we were doing. He smiled & nodded but gave no further information other than, "Dress warm; it's supposed to snow." As we approached the glowing exhibit we could see "Ice Castles" signs directing us where to go. We walked through illuminated walls 20 to 30 feet high all slowly changing different colors made of thousands of icicles. After 2 hours of exploring the frozen maze, we went to a local spot called The Creek. As we were leaving, the snow had just begun to come down, and under the street lights, it looked like glitter falling. Side by side we left the first footprints in the fresh flakes. After arriving back at our room, we grabbed the comforter off the bed & sat in the wide window deck as we watched the town being covered by the soft blanket of winter. We laughed & talked & the longer we talked, the brighter the town glowed against the white. As Maina was admiring the dreamy snowscape, Ezra emerged from their warm cocoon & got down on one knee, she held back tears as he asked her to Marry him & overjoyed, she said, "Yes."