In a virtual day and age, Christina and Wesley met on a park bench on a Monday evening in August. Wesley had recently traded in his suit for a t-shirt and a pair of jean shorts, the latter of which would be outlawed by Christina years later, and had decided to go on a neighborhood walk. The sun was setting over the scenic view of the Rocky Mountains from Denver’s historic Cheesman Park as Wesley relaxed into a seat under the park’s white stone pavilion. Christina was nestled at the other end of the long bench, absorbed in a lengthy hardcover textbook. As the sun began to dip under the alpine horizon, Wesley glanced at Christina and asked her what she was reading. Their eyes met, and 30 minutes later Wesley asked Christina for her number. That same wonderful conversation continues to this day.

On a temperate Friday afternoon in December, Wesley was sweating under his coat as he raced an impending snowstorm through the Rockies toward their favorite small mountain town, Steamboat Springs. Christina was riding casually by his side and raised her eyebrow as he offered a fifth disgruntled comment about the weather. This was a rare and coveted getaway weekend during Christina’s bustling first year of medical residency, and Wesley knew that time was precious. He took a deep breath and let out a sigh of relief as they turned into a parking space at the hotel lodge just a few hours ahead of snowfall. After they had both settled in, he turned the small jewelry box slowly inside of his pocket as he suggested that they visit Fish Creek Falls, a meandering local walk through rustic forest scenery and high mountain peaks. The snow crunched under their feet and a few small snowflakes floated lightly in the air as they reached a point overlooking the frozen waterfall and the sweeping pine-covered valley below. Wesley took Christina's warm hand, knelt on the ground, and asked her to go on the adventure of a lifetime with him. The “yes” from Christina’s breath floated on the winter air as Wesley placed the ring on her finger.