Waiting for the bus was just a routine starting into our 7th grade school year. I heard there was a new family that had moved in that summer. Not knowing much about my new neighbors I didn't think much of it. Standing in the early morning light alone, I heard foot steps walking down the hill of Winterwood drive. There she was, the beautifully dimpled blonde girl I knew that was put here on this earth just for me. Even if it took her 15 years to finally give the "friend" a shot. Having my own car at the age of 16 to take her to and from school wasn't enough to whew her over. She needed to experience life without me for a little while until she realized that she was missing something in her life (Don't worry I was missing something too). It was not having her best friend and mine for that matter in each other's lives that really made life feel somewhat empty. 14 years of her own adventure later Rachel found herself back in our hometown. It didn't take me long to rekindle our friendship back to full strength and I finally worked up the courage to ask to go with me to Michael's birthday party. Needless to say I knew what I wanted and I think she did too, so we booked a camping trip for just the two of us in my favorite place in Michigan; the Keweenaw and Sunset Bay Campground. That's where we quickly realized we were stepping away from just a friendship love to something much deeper. That first trip together truly showed us what partners are supposed to be for one another. Now having each other for every curve ball that life has to offer, I'm no longer afraid of those challenges. We now know that no matter what, we have each other, and that's more powerful than anything in life. Together we will continue moving forward, laughing, singing, and most importantly smiling through life as Husband and Wife.