We're getting married in Zion!

Rob and I met at a class to learn the skills of canyoneering. It was an exciting time in so many ways. We traveled all over the country and later around the world. We met in January of 2015. By October of that year, obvious to everyone we knew, but thinking we were being secretive, we finally committed as a couple. The past years have been the best of my life. Through canyoning accidents and pandemics, our love only seems to grow stronger everyday. I love you Rob. I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you! Couples that play outside together, stay together!

One night, as I was walking past Rob as he was reading a book, he looked up at me and said "Do you want to elope with me?" People who know us, know that although we are affectionate and loving, we are not into a lot of society's expectations of romance. Weddings are too expensive, Valentine Day is just a marketing ploy to steal our hard earned money, LOL! I said, "OK, but please do one thing for me? Ask my father for permission" Rob, being quite aware of how traditional my father is, agreed. So on Christmas morning, after we opened gifts and ate breakfast, I went into his personally assigned bedroom and shoved him into the room my dad was working in and went out into the tv room to hang out with my mom. A few minutes later, my dad came out of the room with Rob trailing behind him and said Rob asked and my dad said Yes! He asked one small thing of us, though. That we do not elope and have an actual wedding. So we were forced into planning a wedding and I allowed Rob to take a back seat and I'm not going to lie. I'm enjoying planning this big party. I'm loving the gift registry (even though Rob doesn't really know about this. He says no gifts and I fully back him up on it. But I know some people won't listen :-P and we need a vegetable slicer), I'm excited to wear a fancy dress and makeup and flower crown and most important, I'm excited to have my friends and family present as Rob and I commit to one another for the rest of our lives. I love this man more than I've ever loved anyone or anything. It's different than the love you have for family and friends which is also strong and amazing. To bring these two worlds of love together is worth the thousands of dollars we're literally flushing down a toilet (at this point, I can laugh at this statement. I no longer feel any of this is money down the drain., but worth every penny), but hopefully, our peeps will walk away feeling the love and believing in love and loving how much we love each other and LOVE LOVE LOVE all day long. We love you all.

Big Sur is known for its incredible coastline. Highway One weaves its way along the ocean atop precipitous cliffs. The Santa Lucia Mountains rise steeply, affording sweeping and sometimes panoramic views of the coast. Big Sur's ocean views are awe-inspiring. In Big Sur, I feel alive, and I wanted to propose to Liz here. We were backpacking a loop in the Silver Peak Wilderness. The first leg of our journey was the Buckman Trail. The Buckman Trail begins at the Salmon Creek trailhead and quickly climbs above Highway One. It meanders through coastal canyons and atop ridgelines, and offers several amazing, panoramic views of the ocean. We'd been hiking for several hours, and we'd passed some inspiring vistas. None had felt quite right to me, though. I looked at my map, and realized that we'd almost reached the junction with the Cruikshank Trail, where we'd head inland. There was one last opportunity. Buckman Overlook. I climbed to the top of a ridge, and looked out to see the trail split. To the left, it went to Buckman Overlook. To the right, it switchbacked down the sides of a ravine to join the Cruikshank Trail. Two figures were heading toward Buckman Overlook. I couldn't believe my luck. I would hike ahead of Liz, and ask this pair to film my proposal. I caught up to them at the overlook. They had set up on a rock, on a ledge with a sweeping view of the ocean. I interrupted them, and asked them if they would do me a favor. I quickly explained the situation. They were very gracious, and said yes without hesitation. I gave them my phone. They stood and walked a few feet back. I went and stood on the trail, at the edge, and waited. Soon, a tired and unsuspecting Liz caught up. I looked to my right to make sure they were ready, and then I dropped to one knee. Liz cried, and I was happy.