I first started paying attention to Grace in Grade 11, as we both had English class together. It wasn't much, just the occassional glance every once in a while. As we moved into Grade 12 we had English together again, as well as History. I found myself constantly looking over her way, more and more each day. Eventually, I realized, "hey, I think I kinda like this girl". And that I did.

At this point it was to no surprise that I wanted an opportunity to ask Grace out to homecoming. I had no idea at all whether she might like me too, or just thought I was a creep staring at her throughout the days. Either way I knew that I had to come up with a plan to take her to the homecoming dance. And that I did. She somehow said yes, and we started seeing each other more every day.

I asked Grace to be my girlfriend that day, the day of our homecoming dance. In the most casual, relaxed way, she decided to say "sure". Wasn't exactly quite the answer I was expecting, but hey, it worked! Apparently, she claims she had no idea this was my intention, and if that IS the case, she is the most oblivious person I know...

Anyways, we ventured on together as a couple, learning more about each other every day. Even though we have the exact opposite music tastes (Musicals vs. Metal), we always found a way to accept each other's differences (except she doesn't let me play my music in the car still to this day...)

Years went on together. Multiple Christmases, thanksgivings, birthdays, and still she stuck with me! I was lucky enough to have her, and here she is still putting up my degenerate gaming habits and my obsession with the Kings. I was continuing on with my electrical apprenticeship, while Grace was trekking forward planning on eventually becoming an elementary teacher. Lots of changes took place over time with our lives. I moved out for a year with one of my friends, and then he moved out to make way for Grace to move in with me. This was the final test. The one that everyone says makes or breaks their relationship. Lucky for Grace, she had the nicest guy in all of the west coast to make the transition easy.

After a while, I realized that this whole "living together" thing really wasn't as big of a deal as they all made it out to be. How could it be hard when I was kicked off laundry and dinner duty in the first week?! Life continued on for us as we were progressing in our careers, working towards our future. Grace graduated university and became a certified elementary teacher, and I became a big-time sparky.

Eventually, after 8 years of my useless rambles and forgetting to do the dishes, I decided it was time for the proposal! In all honesty she was probably going to break up with me if I waited any longer (and rightfully so, we were together 8 years after all...), so on I went planning for my extravagant proposal idea!

With the help of one of Grace's friends, she was able to convince her to go on a hike up near Squamish (it took a lot of convincing), where I would then meet her up a the peak of the cliff, get down on one knee, and do the deed. Everything went to plan, I wished her on her merry way that morning, gave her a coffee, and said see you when you get back. I immediately got changed, sprinted to my car, and left in a plan to meet Grace up at the cliff before she got there. I DID get there before her (with the help of someone who helped me know where the hell I was going). Everything went smooth, well, except for the group of tourists who swarmed in to take photos on the cliff face I was supposed to walk up. We asked them politely to get the hell out of the way, as nothing was ruining my (our) big day! Grace and her couple of friends eventually made it to the cliff, where I nonchalantly walked up in my lululemon pants and a button-up long sleeve in borderline freezing weather (I forgot my jacket). From there, I got down on one knee, said the words, and the rest is history.

Since then, Grace and I have bought our first place in Maple Ridge, we have (mostly) planned for our wedding this upcoming August, and we have also taken in 2 kitties to the family (Clover and Felix), who help complete our home. I never envisioned myself owning a cat, I was always a dog person. I used to say "why the hell would you get a CAT, when you can own a DOG??" Well, that's life.

See you all at the wedding!

Things to Do

Cocktail hour.. tell me more