How We Met
Justin and I met our Junior year of high school after I had just moved to Colorado. His locker was conveniently placed next to mine, and he was the only person in my AP Government class that was welcoming, and made me feel like I was a part of something. After cultivating our friendship for a couple of months, he finally asked me out on a date. That afternoon, we spent four and a half hours sitting in the restaurant talking about anything and everything. It was the first time I had interacted with someone so real, and so open. I flirted, laughed, and fell way too hard for a boy I had just met.
To this day one of his favorite memories is that afternoon. We began spending more and more time together, and eventually, not only did he become my best friend, but he became my everything. The rest was history. Since then, we’ve shared the same passion for adventure, and have had so incredible opportunities to travel the world together. Shared below is a photo taken of us in Paris our senior year after graduation. He is my moon, my sun, and all of my stars.
how they asked
Justin is a notorious hopeless romantic. There is always a fresh bouquet of flowers in the kitchen, a sweet note left on my lunch or in my bag, and he goes out of his way to leave me little surprises whenever he knows it has been a long day. In every sense, he is what most women dream of. About two years ago, we began a ritual that we would go somewhere we had never been before every weekend. Most of the time, this means we’re hustling out of bed at six a.m. on Saturday mornings to drive a few hours to find what we call our “view”. It is always unexpected, and undoubtedly my favorite way to spend time with him.
For my birthday this year, Justin completely surprised me with a getaway trip to Seattle. It had been somewhere we’d wanted to visit for a long time, and I couldn’t have been more excited. He pulled out all the stops, and had us on the 45th floor of one of the downtown hotels with a view, had an entire itinerary made, and couldn’t have been sweeter. I was so excited to get out of town for the weekend, and couldn’t wait to explore Seattle with my best friend.
On Saturday morning, Justin wok us up early to head to Kerry Park to watch the sunrise over the city, hoping to get a view of Mount Rainer in the background. I had seen photos of the park prior to us heading there, and agreed with him that it could be the perfect place to watch the sunrise, and find our “view”.
I thought it was a little odd that Jus didn’t let me bring my camera along, because we take it almost everywhere. I never would have guessed it was because he has something so much greater planned.
Come 7:15, we were perfectly positioned in the park as the sun had started to rise. It was an absolutely stunning view of the city, and the clouds had cleared over Mt. Rainer. It was undoubtedly one of the most beautiful moments I have ever experienced. The sky was pink and light blue, and the sun began to hit the skyline perfectly. Justin had found and created the most utterly perfect moment.
As I stood looking out, I couldn’t help but feel so grateful to get to experience such a beautiful moment with my best friend; I was so thankful to be his and have him as mine. It was then, as he pointed out towards the skyline and I looked farther out into the distance that I realized exactly what was going on. Tears began to well, and I could feel my stomach drop.
As I spun back toward him, I couldn’t help but gasp. The absolute love of my life was down on one knee and asking me to marry him. In the most beautiful moment in a city we’d filled with memories, was this perfect man, all mine. My knees gave out and I nearly collapsed next to him. The more he spoke, the more I began to quiver. He makes every day the new best day. He has been with me through so many ups, downs, and everything in between. We have grown so much together. He is undoubtedly the love of my life. Of course, I said yes, and cannot wait to see what our little forever will hold.
