Brian and I seemed to cross each other’s paths a few times before actually getting together. Sort of like when you enter a room and you feel like you just missed the best part of the party. It all began at a little place called The Cliffs Resort. I started as a restaurant manager in September of 2006. Brian was working as a server but we never officially met (he worked nights, I worked days). He quit The Cliffs three months later, but we had a lot of friends in common.

Over a year goes by…

Our first encounter was Valentine’s Day 2008. I went out to dinner with my best friend Hali, as we were both single. Dinner led to drinks, and drinks  led to dancing. I ran into Brian while I was out. There was an instant  chemistry there, and we were by each other’s side the rest of the night. I ended up losing my entire purse towards the end of the evening (which if you know me, you know that is very typical); my phone, keys, everything gone. It ended up being turned in to the police, but I had already ordered a   new phone.  Brian had text messaged me that night saying he hoped I made it home okay. When I didn’t respond, he figured I wasn’t interested. Little did he know that I was missing my phone.

A few months go by…

We run into each other at a concert, as we still had mutual friends. I ignored Brian and he ignored me. I really wanted to talk to him, but I felt shy and awkward. He thought I didn’t like him because he never heard from me after Valentine’s Day. I talked about my feelings with a friend that night, but didn’t make a move.

Seven months go by…

I had moved to San Diego! I was in search of a fresh start in a big city. I was feeling healthier and happier than I had in a long time, and was finally feeling “normal” about being single. I had settled into my own skin.  Then I started hearing how Brian might still be interested in me. He was also hearing that I might be interested in him. Our sneaky friends Dan and Egin were trying to gently push us together.

A month later…

Brian drove the six hours down to San Diego to visit me (which if you know Brian, is not typical of him). We both took a leap of faith. We had our first date at a Padres vs. Rockies baseball game. Two weeks later, he came back to San Diego. And we spent the next ten months making that trek almost every two weeks. We had finally met our person.

Thanksgiving 2010…

Brian and I decided to spend Thanksgiving with my family in Spokane, Washington. We woke up on Thanksgiving morning like any other morning. Brian got up first while I was still in the waking up process. He came back in the room, and was down on the floor at the foot of the bed. He kept saying, “What’s on the floor over here? Really, what is this?” I thought he was a crazy person. But I crawled to the end of the bed anyway. When I got there, he had the ring box open and asked me to be his pal forever.

Ten hours later…

I dropped the ring in the snow! After a twelve hour search with three different metal detectors, and lots of family and friends, we finally found it. It was the worst twelve hours we’ve ever experienced, but we continued to treat each other lovingly throughout. Brian was very determined and patient. We learned that in times of stress, we pull together not break apart.

Today…

Now, we will always have each other’s love and support. We couldn’t be more excited to share our lives with one another!