It's kind of a funny story of how we came to meet. While I (Melissa) was studying abroad one of my best friends was set up with Cody through a mutual friend for a sorority formal. While they didn't hit it off romantically, they did stay friends. Once I got back from studying abroad my friend had a party where I met her new friend Cody. We spent the night running around the Orange circle and Cody "couldn't find" his phone so he had me call it (so he could get my number) ..... and that's where it all began. From that night we became friends and eventually he worked up the courage to ask me out on our first date. After a couple months of dating, during my 21st birthday celebration, Cody officially asked me to be his girlfriend. Five and a half years later here we are!

We decided last year we wanted to try and see a new National Park each year, here we are at the end of 2018 having visited 3 different parks. Our last park of the year was the most exciting thats for sure. We had been planning our camping trip to Zion National Park for a while and were both really excited for it but little did I know what was going to happen. We spent our first day setting up camp, checking out some of the park, and sitting around the campfire with our friends Caleb and Tyler. On our second day Cody and I explored the park while our friends went on a big hike, so we planned to meet up before sunset and do a hike together. We made the drive up to the Canyon Overlook trail and hiked out to the end to take in the stunning view. It was such a gorgeous sunset, we sat there for a while just taking in the beauty of the park. Then Cody asked if I wanted to get a quick picture. We stood in front of the canyon with the sun setting and Cody started to get down on one knee. If you know Cody well you know he enjoys messing with people, so I thought he was trying to fake me out at first. I asked "wait is this real?!" and then he asked me to marry him and of course I said yes! It was a perfect moment in an absolutely beautiful place.