Josh and Emily met while taking a Weather & Climate class together at Denison in 2011, though this did not cause any climactic shift in their relationship just yet. They eventually hit it off at a Doobie party (WDUB--High on the hill, low on the dial, #1 in your hearts) later that school year, where Josh tried to convince Emily to become a Geology major. Well, he didn't quite have her convinced, but he had more time as he was fortuitously placed in Emily's car on the way to a geology spring break field trip in Hawaii. Emily had already been looking forward to spending more time with Josh on this trip, noting before the trip to her mom that a cute "cowboy" was going to be there. Josh and Emily spent lots of time together hiking calderas, lava tubes, magma pools, and green sand beaches, and Emily even lent Josh her clothes when Josh's were stolen while hiking a volcano. They shared their first kiss, nervously, after staying up almost all night talking on Mt. Kilauea. They returned to school as a couple, unsure about what the future may hold. After Josh graduated that year in 2013, they committed to a long-distance relationship while Josh began work and Emily finished school. Emily completed a study abroad program in Iceland (sorry Josh, this is ultimately convinced Emily on becoming a Geology major). Josh worked on oil & gas drill rigs all over the US, visiting Emily at the Denison Homestead during his time off. Josh eventually settled in Oakland, CA, and helped establish a place for the two of them to get their start, in a little apartment by Lake Merritt. Emily finally joined Josh after graduating in 2015, where they worked together doing environmental remediation. Josh changed jobs, so did Emily, they both became Professional Geologists, and eventually found themselves working together yet again, this time with Josh as a hydrogeologist and Emily in environmental consulting. Josh and Emily have had an amazing time living in the SF Bay area--making some great friends (Oaktown Crew!), buying a house together in Oakland in 2019 and taking in a couple little black street cats from the neighborhood (Red and Laurel). They have had plenty of adventures in the outdoors with friends and family, summitting mountains, jumping in watering holes and hot springs, fishing, riding horses, constructing cabins, getting stuck in powder, kayaking with otters, climbing granite, backpacking, and dancing all day and night to music at High Sierra Music Festival, every year since living in California together. But the final rock (or mineral, rather) that brought Josh and Emily together was a sapphire. Josh proposed to Emily in front of both of their families, after a day of whale watching on the Monterey Bay. Josh spent years looking for the right stone to seal the deal and finally decided to propose at a place that was special to them both--"Timshel" (Josh's family's house). Josh barely made it through his prepared speech, and Emily froze in shock that this was actually happening after 9 years of being together, but she said YES! Josh and Emily now look forward to sharing their special place with you all, at Timshel, to celebrate their love and rejoice in the support that they have from their friends and family. Timshel, in Hebrew meaning "Thou Mayest", has always felt symbolic for holding a wedding. It is where Josh and Emily first said "I love you", where they said "Yes", and will say "I Do". When given a choice, we hope Thou Mayest join us to celebrate.