Well, our story started in second grade. We both went to Snowy Range Academy. Gabe remembers more of this time than I do unfortunately; This is in part due to the fact that I was probably one of the most mischievous kids in the class. I liked to pull my friends’ chairs out from under them as they were sitting down, take candy from the candy jar on the teacher’s desk, and beat all the boys in soccer at recess. Gabe and I lost touch a little bit after he left SRA but I can vividly remember each time I saw him. There was a Friday night high school football game our sophomore year that I can tell you all the details of every little thing in the moment that I saw him: the sound of the band, the chill of the air, the nacho cheese smell coming from the concession stand.

The next time we saw each other was in Prexy’s Pasture at the welcome BBQ for the University of Wyoming. He was hanging out with a friend and we all talked for a bit. Now, to let you in on a little secret, Gabe has always had a crush on me. Anytime we’ve ever interacted, and he’s seen me, he makes what I can only describe as the real life version of the cartoon googly heart eyes. So, I invited them to the Cowboy Saloon that night. The Cowboy is rather famous here in Laramie for their 18+ swing dancing night. We saw each other almost every week but he would only ever dance with me once a night! Finally, in November of 2018 we were both single at the same time and we saw each other on a fateful Wednesday night and we talked for hours. He invited me to a fire he was having at his house that Friday and the next week he asked me for our first date. It was magical. I can say that I have never been on a better date. We drove around and looked at the Christmas lights with our hot chocolates in hand, had another fire in a cave outside of Laramie, and got cereal and milk from a gas station and ate the cereal right out of the bag while overlooking Laramie. Feels like it was just yesterday.... #blessed

Ah yes, the second grade. Where your biggest worry was getting as many answers as you could on the multiplication table. Other than that life was pretty simple. One of the simple things in life at the time was how you felt about people. Now at that age I don’t think you can really feel “in love” with someone. What I do know is, you CAN feel connections. And man did I ever feel connected to Rio. Now I was a super type A, no nonsense student that always paid attention and followed the rules, so I’m 90% sure Rio wanted nothing to do with me as she was an elementary outlaw. Despite that, I liked to think we were friends, and since day one I just thought she was the coolest girl in school. Then I left Snowy Range to be homeschooled and didn’t speak to her again for 11 years. However, the connection I felt got none the weaker, as I thought about her at least a couple times each year. Just wondering how she was doing, where she was at in life, or who she had become, but not having any idea why.

Then I finally saw her again in Prexy’s pasture, I remember thinking “wow she hasn’t changed a bit” she was just as cute (well beautiful now), just as fun, and just as outgoing. So naturally she invited Jake (a longtime friend of mine) and myself to the Cowboy to go swing dancing. Dancing had never been my thing but I had tried swing dancing with my sister and was up for having some fun. Due to her relationship status at the time Rio didn’t really show any interest in me at the Cowboy, so despite her being my favorite and smoothest dance partner, I would only dance with her once or twice a night (if she was there). Except one night in the end of November, I noticed she was trying to talk to me way more than normal. I took that as my green light and asked for some contact information. I still don’t know why but she gave it to me. After talking for about a week or so I finally asked her to accompany me on a “Christmas light show adventure”, another yes! Man, I was on a roll. That night was by far the best date I have ever been on. The rest has been a dream come true ever since then. The connection, the feeling to ask her on the date when I did, the unbelievable woman she has become, and her saying YES, all a few of the many God sends I am thankful for.

Gabe proposed to me on December 13, 7 days after our one year anniversary of dating. It was a complete surprise. He had the walkway of my parent’s house lit by vintage Christmas lights and mason jars filled with fairy lights and topped with roses and sunflowers. The walkway had handwritten notes and pictures of us through the past year. Rose petals lined the walkway and went from white to pink to red (each one had a specific meaning). As we turned the corner and stepped onto the porch, there was his family bible opened to Genesis 2:24 with a red rose right down the middle and a small fire centerpiece in front and candles flanking the sides. He proposed to me and I said…..“Yes!” We then went inside and toasted with both sets of parents. He took me to the Bear Tree in Centennial and we spent dinner relishing our new relationship status.