December 8, 2009 - Whitney and her brother, Sid, went white water rafting on the Tully River in Mission Beach, Australia. The river was wild, and Whitney flew out of the raft and landed on a large rock. Full of excitement and adrenaline, Whitney kept rafting for a few more hours, but when she and Sid returned Scotty’s Hostel (where they all were staying), the pain set in. Thinking she had pulled a muscle or even cracked a rib, Whitney sat outside her room and called her parents in tears, desperate for their advice. From afar, this was the first (but thank heavens not the last) time Christian saw Whitney. December 9, 2009 – It was the hottest day of the year. Whitney was in the hostel’s computer room researching doctors in the area and chatting with her best friend, Lauren, on Gmail…when Christian walked in with a cool and confident swagger. Whitney texted Lauren, “OMG the hottest guy just walked in!” Christian passed a long line of computers and sat right next to Whitney, looked at her, and in true German fashion…talked about the weather! “It’s not too cold out today,” said Christian. Whitney said, “What?” - thinking that comment was a little awkward considering it felt like a million degrees outside. Christian clarified by saying, “It’s really hot today.” Whitney agreed. They kept talking – in both English and German – and never stopped!

In July 2017, Christian and Whitney were vacationing on her family’s sailboat in the picturesque islands of French Polynesia. When they arrived on the island of Raiatea, Christian, Whitney and her parents, Sidney and Glenn, took a cruise in an outrigger canoe on the Fa’aroa River. When they reached the heart of this magical island, their fun and quirky tour guide, Tama, told them to close their eyes, be quiet and listen to experience the “manna” (what the locals describe as a deep and spiritual connection to nature). The sounds of life – the birds, the breeze, the flora, the insects – were deafening and beautiful. Fast forward a week later in Bora Bora, Christian and Whitney decided to leave the boat for a night and booked a bungalow on a quaint and authentic private island called, Blue Heaven Island. They went snorkeling in the adjacent “coral garden” and decided to watch the sunset atop a sun deck. It was stunning and peaceful with no other guests in sight. Christian told Whitney to close her eyes, and she thought he wanted her to experience the “manna” again as they had on the river in Raiatea. With her eyes closed, Whitney did experience the “manna,” but she also thought to herself, “Shoot, this is the most perfect moment for him to propose. Why isn’t he proposing to me?! He’s missing this moment!” Then Christian said, “Open your eyes” and presented Whitney with a small box – inside was the most gorgeous engagement ring. Whitney was shocked and kept saying, “Is this happening?!” It was especially surreal for her considering her previous thoughts! After several minutes of laughing, holding each other and crying tears of joy, Christian said, “Well will you?” Whitney said, “Yes!” It was the happiest moment of their lives.