We like to think of ourselves as trailblazers, not succumbing to tradition and societal norms. As part of this attitude, we started our journey on a little app called 'Hinge'. Adam says that he knew right away when he saw her profile that he was going to "swipe right". Our first date was at the Riverside Food Lab. We shared a pizza from Bricks and Birch (half 'Ron Swanson' meat lovers and half butternut squash ricotta). Hillary remembers Adam asking her if she wanted to go out on a second date as he was walking her to her car, which really impressed her. She probably texted all her friends right afterwards to tell them he was even more handsome than his online dating profile suggested. As time went on, we began having more dates and learning more about each other. Things became more serious. Through both exciting and challenging times, it became more clear that we had a good thing going. Hillary even admitted to Adam one summer evening that she was ready to take the next step in their relationship and begin to "date him, date him..." Adam feels partially responsible for this awkward moment because he never officially asked her to "be his girlfriend," but that's beside the point! It wasn't until later that Hillary would corner Adam in the car on a roadtrip from San Diego to discuss their relationship, eventually coaxing him into saying "I love you," first, which he offered with an acquiescent smile. They went on their first backpacking trip to Jennie Lake in the Summer of 2020, mid-pandemic, which is where Hillary says she finally realized that he was the one she wanted to be with forever. We remember this trip being a very fun and emotional journey for us both. Looking back on it, this is where Adam realized that he wanted to be with her forever, too. Our mutual love for the outdoors and backpacking the California wilderness is something that we cherish very dearly. That is why Adam decided that he wanted to propose to Hillary in Yosemite National Forest, but only after making her hike 7 miles to the top of North Dome overlooking Half Dome, on August 7, 2021. We both passed this grueling test, and often remark that Adam had a Frodo-esque task in carrying the "One Ring" to the top of Mount Mordor. This brief recollection only begins to detail the deep love that we share for each other. Every day we strive to grow together and to ask the most of each other. We are both so happy to have found our partner in life. We can't wait to celebrate this joy with you. Thank you for being a part of our story as we continue in this journey together.