This story is my all time favorite story to tell, because it's just a perfect glimpse into US as a couple, and all the shenanigans Dustin has to deal with on a daily basis.

Dustin invited me on the West Coast trip as a friend but later admitted that he wanted to be more than friends, in fact, he was sure he wanted to spend the rest of our lives together. I pretty much knew he was going to propose on this trip, I even gave him suggestions on rings. But I did not know how or when he was going to propose. We planned out many of the places we were going to visit, some of them being very obviously perfect proposal spots. I’m sure he had one picked out, but he brought that ring along with him everywhere waiting for the “perfect” moment. Eventually he had decided, based on a recommendation by a local at our campsite, that he was going to propose under this huge waterfall. After a long day of hiking, we had finally made it to this spot. I was in my zone taking pictures of all kinds of random things along the path as I had been doing all day. Meanwhile Dustin kept moving ahead trying to beat me to the waterfall. I was getting frustrated because every time I looked up, he was gone. Of course, I was oblivious to the fact that this was his whole plan. Finally, I had caught up to him, but we had taken the wrong path….which did not lead us to the bottom of the waterfall as the person had mentioned. We were going to turn back when I spotted a VERY muddy & VERY steep path to CLIMB down to the base of the waterfall. I was sure this was the path that we had to take. So Dustin climbed down first & then quickly decided to come right back up, because he was soaked and covered in mud. He was very clearly not having a great time after this near death experience trying to climb back up this “mudwall”, as he named it. Stubbornly, against his advice, I decided I HAD to go down myself & stand under that waterfall. He hesitantly watched me struggle for 10 minutes trying to get down that wall, stand under the freezing waterfall, and then attempt to climb back up ….in sandals. After a good 10 minutes trying to get back up that wall, I realized it was just NOT happening. We both freaked out a little bit and contemplated calling for rescue but had ZERO service and the sun was going to set within the hour. We came to the conclusion that I was just going to have to find another way back to the trail. Surprisingly, not even 2 minutes later, I discovered the path we were SUPPOSED to take to the base of the waterfall. We both laughed a good bit and I insisted we get pictures together under that waterfall to mark our crazy adventure. I was pretty sure at this moment, I was never getting that ring 😅. At the very least this was not the time or place, because I’m soaking wet, barefoot & COVERED in mud. So, here I am, back in my zone taking pictures again. The next thing I know, while I’m trying to get his picture (and struggling, because my phone was all wet), he gets down on one knee, disappearing from my shot. Frustrated AGAIN, I look up from my camera prepared with some words for him… only to see him holding this ring out. SHOCKED, I busted out laughing and crying at the same time. Saying “yes” and also questioning “REALLY?! now?!”. He said “this is just so YOU, this is the person I want forever”. At this point, I’m questioning the sanity of the both of us 😅

Side note: the picture above is the picture I was trying to get when he got down on one knee. You can even see his hand in his pocket to get the ring out 😆😅

Registry

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