Howdy, folks — Rachel here! Our love story began in the wild west of 2020 dating apps, where COVID-era isolation met endless swiping. Amid the chaos, one Tinder profile stopped me in my tracks: a handsome guy named Brady with photos of national park hikes and dinosaur skulls. Obviously, I had to send the infamous “super like.” After a few dates, it was clear that we had a real connection. Brady was pursuing a Master’s in Geology, while I was getting mine in Ecology and Evolution. We bonded instantly over our shared passions for natural history and the outdoors. As the world shut down, we found joy in home‑cooked meals, nature walks, and countless cat memes. When did I know Brady was The One? It was during the summer of 2021 when he invited me to Utah for a geology fieldwork trip. I watched him scale cliffs, conquer treacherous backroads in an F150, and unravel the mysteries of Earth’s history just by looking at ancient rock faces. He was brilliant, brave, and — let’s be honest — looked damn incredible in his field pants. We explored Arches and Canyonlands National Parks together, and somewhere between the sandstone arches and desert sunsets, I realized I wanted to explore the world with this man forever. Our love continued to grow over the next few years. We moved into the coziest apartment, adopted our beloved daughter (our kitty, Crunchwrap Supreme), and traveled to Hawaii, Costa Rica, and Big Sur. I visited Brady in Houston during his summer internships, and we built a rhythm of shared holidays — Thanksgivings with his family, Christmases with mine. Then came Christmas 2023. We exchanged gifts beside our twinkly, little tree while our cat snoozed on the couch. After opening everything, Brady handed me one last gift: a bundle of national park postcards. I smiled politely — I love the parks, but it felt a little random. Then he flipped the first card to reveal a word. Then another. And another. Together they read: “I hope you are ready for a great trip!” He had planned a 16‑day national park road trip, complete with itinerary and lodging. Tears were shed. Brady here taking over! Our big adventure kicked off in August 2024. We road‑tripped to Great Sand Dunes, Colorado National Monument, Dinosaur National Monument, the Tetons, and Yellowstone — a whirlwind of camping, hiking, and bonfires under the moonlight. At last, we reached Rachel’s dream destination: Glacier National Park. We checked into our cabin on Flathead Lake and planned out the next few days. Her birthday was approaching, and after so much activity, she decided on chill birthday plans of reading by the lake and paddle boarding on the clear, turquoise waters. This all might sound peaceful, but I was sweating buckets, as I had a secret plan. Before her birthday dinner, Rachel wanted to go rock hounding on the lakeshore. I knew this was my moment. Months earlier, I’d bought an intricate engagement ring and tucked it inside a sparkling amethyst geode box. It had the perfect whimsical vibe I knew she'd love. Rachel picked the spot — supposedly a short, easy hike down to the lake… which turned out steep enough that she nearly wiped out several times (shocking no one). Eventually, we reached the beach and started searching. The stones were stunning: red, gold, purple, green. My heart was pounding. After wandering for a bit, I called her over to look at a “strange rock” I had “found.” She examined it, asking whether it was metamorphic or igneous — and that’s when I took the plunge. Literally. I knelt in the lake and revealed the ring in the geode box. She doubled over in shock, tears flowing, and the secret photographer I’d hired popped out to capture the moment. If you’d told me a rock hunt would become the best day of my life, I would’ve believed you — but I never could’ve imagined how special it would be. The geologist finally found his most sought‑after gem. Here’s to a lifetime of surprises, adventures, and collecting every kind of treasure together, Rach.