We met on a photography trip to Vancouver B.C. I, Mitch, had just graduated from Pacific University and was asked by our photography professor to drive the van for the trip. Little did I know that I would come back with more than a just a great photo and fun memories. Jessica thought I was an old guy driving the van for the trip. We spent most of the trip together getting to know one another. When we came back home I invited her over to watch HIMYM (How I Met Your Mother) she had no clue what that acronym was and thought I was crazy, but she still gave me a chance. We quickly became great friends.

I was nervous to go on the photography trip, I didn’t know any other students going, but the photography professor insisted that “Mitch Graham” was going on the trip, “you know him, everybody knows Mitch”. Everyone except for me. I had no idea who this guy was, but everyone insisted that he was great. Once we were in Vancouver, he passed by my dorm room each night to get to the men's locker rooms. After the first night he realized that he had not packed soap, toothpaste or a towel for the 2 week trip. Luckily, I came to the rescue and let him borrow my soap each night and laughed at him for having to use paper towels to dry off. (Karma came around when I ripped the seat of my pants a couple days into the trip and Mitch got a good laugh). Who would have thought that later on we would piece together our history at Pacific and realize that we had had crossed paths a hundred times on campus, but never met each other. I remember falling for his charm on the trip, but not telling him for another couple of months after our return. We began spending time together constantly and he finally “convinced” me that we were meant to be.

Jessica and I had been around each other for about a month at this point. I found myself falling for this weird, amazing, fun woman. She was not sure how to handle us, as she was unsure if she wanted to be in a relationship. On the night before her 21st birthday, we were texting and she told me that she couldn't hang out with me anymore, frightened that she was catching feelings for me as well. So I did the only thing I could think of to convince her that I wasn't going anywhere. I drove out to her house. Jessica was completely surprised that I went to her house in the middle of the night just to make sure that she was okay. She knew then that I was more than just another person in her life.

I always give Mitch a hard time saying that he made me cry on my birthday, but I had never met a guy so genuinely caring, and persistent. I am glad that he did not give up as easily as I was willing to. I was afraid to lose a good friend when in reality I was gaining so much more.

She was completely surprised. I had come up with a great plan to catch her off guard. With the ring in my pocket and my anxiety at an all time high, I decided it was time to let her know how much she truly meant to me. After work we had plans to go and watch the Hops play baseball and then drive on into Portland to celebrate our amazingly talented friend Tara Velarde and her album release. I had been working with Tara trying to figure out when she could help me out with this proposal, She covered the song "Obsessed" by Dan and Shay for us. I had planned on asking Jessica at one of her later shows as this was Tara's night, but Tara sent a message and asked do you want to do it on this night? I said yes. This was the first yes that would come from this proposal, the second yet to come. As we made it through the game and down to the venue, I had to play it cool and not give any hints away even though I was carrying the ring in my pocket the entire time. We are there enjoying our time listening to music, when Tara starts to dedicate this next song to us. Jessica is in awe that I asked her to play the song and was so excited to hear it. In the middle of the song Tara takes a moment to call Jessica and I to the stage where I in nervous fashion tried to speak and nothing made sense, except when I got down on one knee and asked her to marry me. This moment felt like an eternity, as she had closed her eyes being overwhelmed by the moment and it took a second for her to respond "Yes".

I had NO idea what he was planning. I am usually pretty good at figuring out surprises, but Mitch and Tara pulled the wool over my eyes for this one. I was simply excited to go to a baseball game and go support our friend at a concert. After the fact I laughed at all of the signs that I missed and I even joked in the car on the way to the concert that we should pretend to be engaged so we could go cake tasting. When Tara dedicated the song I was caught off guard and still had no idea that a proposal was coming until Tara asked us to join her onstage. When Mitch knelt down on one knee I remember him almost knocking over one of the guitars and then I froze, I forgot what I was supposed to say and I must have left him there for an eternity. Eventually, I came to my senses and agreed to marry my best friend.