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| Photo Credit: Aldabella Photography |
Ryan and I first met at a Bible
study at a local church, but after meeting for the first time we didn’t see
each other again until a few months later when a mutual friend had a going away
party at their house. During the party I kept staring at this handsome man
hoping that he wouldn’t catch me looking at him. As the party went on, somehow
we got into a short conversation and were able to exchange names, but that was
all we exchanged, until a few weeks later at another mutual friends going away
party when Ryan came up to me and invited me to go rock climbing. After saying
yes Ryan proceeded to ask me for my number and about a week later we went rock
climbing with some of our friends. Not long after going rock climbing, Ryan and
I went out on our first date where he left such a great impression on me. From
his goofy personality during dinner, to the boldness he had throughout the
night, and to him sharing where he was in his relationship with Christ, I knew
I was definitely attracted to him and wanted to keep dating him.
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| Photo Credit: Aldabella Photography |
About a month went by of growing
our friendship deeper by hanging out with friends and going on dates, before
Ryan asked me to officially be his girlfriend. As time went on we kept pursuing
Christ together and serving one another in our day-to-day life. We kept
creating memories together, getting to know each other, and of course falling
in love with one another through going out on dates and sharing our lives with
one another. Little did we know that almost a year had passed since Ryan had
asked me to be his girlfriend.
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| Photo Credit: Aldabella Photography |
As our one-year anniversary was
approaching, Ryan and I had plane tickets to go out to Colorado for about a
week to go visit one of my best friends and be a part of her wedding. Not only
were we excited to take a trip together, and see my friend get married, but we
were also excited to rock climb and go hiking in such a beautiful state. So the
second day we were in Colorado we planned to go for a sunrise hike in the Estes
Mountain at Rocky Mountain National Park. We got up that morning, got ready,
and headed to Bear Lake where we got to witness the most beautiful sunrise I
have ever seen (see below).
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| Photo Credit: Aldabella Photography |
Not long after we got there and started
hiking on the trail we decided to go sit down on a bench that overlooked the
lake. As I was sitting there taking a photo, Ryan reached into his backpack and
told me I needed to stand up and face him. (Excursus: When Ryan and I first
started dating he would come over to my house and at times we would both end up
doing the dishes. Well we both hated the cheap dish soap my mom would purchase
from the Dollar Store because it would not get sudsy. So one evening Ryan came
over to my house and brought with him three big bottle of Dawn dish soap. Soon
after we acquired the three bottles, Ryan began to tell my mom and I that by
the time the third bottle of Dawn dish soap was gone Ryan and I would be either
engaged or married. At the time of this trip the third bottle was more than
half way gone.)
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| Photo Credit: Aldabella Photography |
Now back to the story… So I stood up and turned to face Ryan
and as I did that he got down on his right knee, held out an empty bottle of
dawn dish soap and asked me if I would marry him! I stood there shocked,
excited, and a little confused as to why I was holding an empty bottle of dish
soap instead of a ring. Don’t get me wrong, I knew what the dish soap symbolized
but I was still a little confused. “Did the ring not get shipped in time? Did
it not make it on the airplane? Is it in the empty soap bottle?,” I thought to
myself as I stood there staring at the man I would soon call my groom.
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| Photo Credit: Aldabella Photography |
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| Photo Credit: Aldabella Photography |
Then
Ryan reached into his bag while saying “don’t worry I have a ring,” and he
pulled out the most beautiful ring I have ever laid eyes on. He then asked me
again if I would marry him, this time holding the ring in his hand, and with
tears of joy I muttered, “Of course I will!” I gave Ryan a hug and a kiss and
then he slipped the ring on my finger. We then enjoyed the rest of the morning
walking around and doing an engagement shoot with a local photographer,
Aldabella Photography, that Ryan hired and had been planning with for about a
month. This engagement was definitely way better than I had ever dreamed of and
I couldn’t ask for a better person to spend the rest of my life with.
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| Photo Credit: Aldabella Photography |
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| Photo Credit: Aldabella Photography |
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| Photo Credit: Aldabella Photography |
Congratulations to Ryan & Jonetta on your Rocky Mountain-Colorado engagement!! A love story so sweet!!
Wedding Wishes,
Marie
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