We first crossed paths at the University of Akron, where we were both studying civil engineering. Monica was a year ahead, and though we had seen each other at Steel Bridge Team events, Will remained a bit elusive—though he claims he was just being mysterious! It wasn’t until a regional competition that we finally connected, bonding over a juggling act... with ketchup packets, of all things. Monica not-so-subtly borrowed Will’s hoodie that day and brought him coffee—the real way to his heart. With a little help from our friend Erika, who expertly played matchmaker on the van ride back to campus, we sat next to each other and sneakily held hands in the backseat so no one else would know. Back on campus, Monica smoothly asked, “You know, you can text me, right?” Luckily, Will did! By the next day, we had our first date set—coffee, of course. What started as a simple coffee date turned into hours of walking, talking, and eventually dinner at Applebee’s, which, funnily enough, is now our least favorite restaurant. After seven years of consuming countless breakfast foods, examining bridges, adopting our two beloved cats (Eggs “Ben”edict and “Biscuit”and Gravy), hiking and skiing/snowboarding many trails, and traveling the U.S (17 states!), we decided it was time to take the next step… international travel. Little did Monica know, Will had another next step in mind and began planning his proposal. With flights booked to Vancouver, we set out on our next adventure, with Will nervously hoping customs wouldn’t pull out the ring hidden in his backpack. Once there, we explored White Rocks, the filming location of our favorite show, Psych, and of course, visited a bridge—Capilano Suspension Bridge, to be exact (look it up, it’s beautiful). It was there, surrounded by nature and adventure, that Will surprised Monica with the perfect proposal. Amid happy tears (no surprise there!), Monica said yes. Since then, we’ve spent the past year purchasing and remodeling our future home, planning and praying for our future, exploring the breathtaking landscapes of Alaska, and eagerly anticipating celebrating our marriage with all of you—exactly one year since our engagement! Love, M&W