Sh*t just got real.

As it began... "Once A Chieftain Always A Chieftain"--we both attended and graduated from Shiprock High School. I (Summer) was working at a restaurant in town when he (Leavander) spotted me working there. Sadly, I've never seen him at the restaurant. However, his bf (Best Man) Q, would be the one to order every chance they'd get. Apparently, I was in a relationship at the time my senior year and Lee knew that (even though he was dating too). He never approached me at school or work, but he was shy to come inside to order. 🥰After grad, I attended ASU--he was out in Oklahoma for work. After months of being single, I received a friend request by Leavander Joe on Facebook. I accepted it and he began messaging me on messenger shortly after. It began with everyday conversations to talking on the phone for hours and FINALLY meeting in Shiprock after 2 months of never seeing each other in person. We had so much in common, we chatted about odd subjects and many other topics. To this day, we learned time flies, memories grow, love is strong, and faith is needed. Amazingly, we've been through many highs and lows from the past 9 years (since June 8, 2011) and we cannot wait for many more! It's a blessing from the first day we've met, not knowing what our future holds, being with someone you're meant to continue on a journey to infinity and beyond.

It all began with an unknowingly day of an adventure. Like many relationships, craziness of ups and downs, arguments and agreements, anger and love. That gorgeous Saturday was our getaway—hiking in the mountains. This was going to be a day that will change our lives. The morning of June 1st, 2019, not enough sleep, but determination to have a refreshment of Mother Earth and some fun in Durango. Before all this, a month before this day, I (Summer) was off work and remembered cleaning the whole apartment from dishes to wiping down every item, laundry, and vacuum. It basically took the whole daylight of detailing our apartment while Leavander (Lee) was at work. I remember folding his clothes one by one, then in his drawer, I’ve seen an iPhone box. To myself, I’m thinking ‘maybe it’s a new phone and he wants to surprise me? Or maybe it’s his old phone box and he kept it because his charger is inside?’ Little did I know, I had no clue and no energy to open it nor pick it up. So, I just carelessly pushed it aside and I neatly folded his clothes on top of it. It was whatever at the moment, I just wanted to shower and rest up before Lee was off. I remember Lee telling me when he got home, he opened his drawer where the box was hidden and found all his clothes organized. He freaked out thinking I’ve seen it (I honestly did not). I was sitting on the couch totally normal. In his mind, he was hoping I didn’t find it especially how casual I was acting. Back to the day of our hike, I was grumpy that morning, Leavander on the other hand was cheering me up after we had a disagreement that morning. I was trying to look for baby oil (for some odd reason I cannot remember), he said and I quote “It’s in the bathroom behind the mirror cabinet, dummy. Where else would it be?” And from my own thoughts, I was moody and replied, “THANKS! I love being called stupid!” And his response was “Wow, what’s your problem?? I didn’t call you that?”

I wasn’t in the mood at all because of my lack in sleep. I told him if we should not go and forget it because we had an argument of nonsense due to frustration and tiresome. He disappointedly responded “You PROMISED me we will go hiking THIS weekend. It’s beautiful outside and you want to blow it off?” I was being annoying, took to thought, and threw all this nonsense aside because, we’ve been through so much that year. I needed to shut up and be mature about it. Especially with us loving our adventures together as our therapy to do something we both enjoy together. So I told him we will go and grabbed my stuff for our hike. We left about 10AM, had a wonderful drive to Durango, and he was looking for this trail a friend of ours told us about. We finally arrived and began our trail around 11AM. I was thinking it’ll be cool and breezy because it’s one of the mountains in Durango. Turns out, it was HOT! It’s been a while since we’ve hiked but, that didn’t stop me. I wanted to take our time and I was very out of shape—cardio wise. We gathered up our gear in the car and guess what I saw?? That iPhone box again, but it was placed behind the drivers seat on the floor. Again, I didn’t give any thought to it, but what the heck is that here for? ‘Whatever’ was my thought. We had all of our items and started to hike. I was glad we didn’t take Ziggy. He is an old man so we would have had to carry him after the first 30 minutes. Anyway, our hike began and taking a huge breath of this spontaneous scenery, we were ready to enjoy the day. I was basically the one taking our time due to my lack of exercise, we were enjoying the little things, taking pics every few meters, enjoying the view, and on the side I was worried about mountain lions or bears like usual. Normally, Leavander is patient with me when we hike because he is an advanced hiker than I am. For some reason, he was determined to get to the top of the mountain.

I would usually have 10 mins to catch my breath, but I literally pushed myself to keep up with him. I was saying, “Okay, I need to rest for a bit, I’m so out of shape!” And he was said, “Alright, don’t give up...you got this!” I am literally giving myself small breaks cut short to keep up. We were 2 miles in, I am exhausted! I asked him, “How far along are we??” He quickly pointed up the mountain across the river. “We gotta get to there!” I laughed sarcastically, hoping he is kidding. Which looked like another 2 miles. This trail is kicking my butt, so far. I was thinking ‘OMG he’s lying’. We crossed the bridge and doing well until I needed to go the bathroom. Every turn we had up the zig zag trail, I wanted to run to a bush and go but, every time I’ve decided to find a place to “pop a squat”, someone passes us. All I’m worried about is going to the bathroom, I’m sure his thoughts was wondering WHEN we’ll get there. Every moment he looked back, I was leaning against a tree or complaining how badly I need to go to the bathroom or how hungry I am. Finally, after another hour goes by, we reach the top! Just moments ago I thought he was joking about being up here, but he obviously wasn’t. He made sure I was taken care of by leading me to a secluded spot for the bathroom. After we got that taken care of, he took me to a phenomenal view at the edge of a cliff. He fed me a granola bar to shut my mouth from complaining how hungry I was. I took a moment where he lead me to this amazing spot, the rocks had a seat embedded in them on both sides. He told me to sit there and rest. He handed me a granola bar to eat, I took a huge breath, and enjoyed this spectacular view. Clear skies, wonderful breeze, no one around, and a view that’ll take your breath away. As I was watching this scenery God had created, I remember Leavander in the background moving around that I didn’t pay attention too. He was setting up his speaker (earlier I knew I heard it come on but I didn’t care).

He was making sure I ate and had some water. I finally asked “What are you doing?” He responded “Are you all good now?” And I thanked him for putting up with me the whole 4 hours on our way up. He helped me up and positioned me away from the cliff. I was thinking in my mind ‘Aw... he really wanted to make this our breather’. However, he was giving me a speech of our good and bad times, how we’ve been through so much these past 8 years, then after we’ve seen two love birds flying around the cliff and that amazed us how beautiful it was to witness that.. He asked me, “Do you know what nature’s telling us right now??” I was being a blonde and said “Uh, to explore more??” He replied with a smile and said “No...” and at that moment I was thinking sarcastically ‘What? Is he gonna propose?’ Then... he went down on one knee ready to open a small black ring box! However, before I could realize what he was going to ask due to his gesture, I literally melted in tears!! My vision blurred with a waterfall of tears after being so shocked of this moment, he asked “Will you go on more adventures with me for the rest of our lives??” I cried “OMG!!! YESS!!!” I couldn’t believe this very moment was finally happening! Seeing the tear drops from his eyes, I glanced down and seen this man of mine presenting me with a mind blowing Le Vian chocolate diamond ring with strawberry and champagne diamonds on each end. I couldn’t help, but kneel down with him, hugged him, filled with love and joy— I couldn’t believe this was happening. We stood up and I jumped on him (knowing he was smart to move me away from the cliff when positioned me where to stand before his speech). We both held each other, I couldn’t hold the excitement in so I turned around and screamed on top of the mountain, “I’M ENGAGED!!!!”

Literally a second later, the two love birds we seen earlier flew in front of us singing and a group of other birds joined to sing with them and flew off as Leavander was holding me and the most amazing breeze blew by. The beautiful birds was our approval of the Lord’s blessing and a whiff of a comforting summer breeze made it a memory I could never forget. We smiled with joy and the happiest feeling we could feel at that day of our lives. We both starred at the view from the top of the Colorado mountain and felt every positive feeling you could feel. After hours of hiking and phenomenal feelings, I couldn’t be happier hiking my way down, smiling, and cheerfully saying “Hi!” to every hiker. I honestly had no clue this was going to happen. He caught me off guard like he usually does, knowing Leavander is amazing at surprises. I wouldn’t shut up the whole way down about what had happened but the whole morning made sense now. He explained to me after I asked him where he hid the ring? He told me it was in that iPhone box that I kept eyeing for a month but miraculously, I never touched. It all worked out on his behalf and so glad I never caught it. He told me he was going to propose to me before at EDC Las Vegas in mid May on a Saturday night but, ironically that night was the first night of all 5 years we’ve been there, shut down early because of the extreme sandstorm that happened around midnight. It was a sign he accepted that it wasn’t the time. I’m glad he knew this adventure was the time to do so. One of the best times we enjoy our couple’s day is hiking. Not a doubt in my mind, this is the man I know I’ll spend everyday filled with happiness, love, and comfort. This truly is To Infinity and Beyond!!