Once upon a time.... lol just kidding.

Josh and I met in 1997 (I think) We were in high school together, although being much older he was a grade above me. I was a Sophomore cheerleader when he was a Varsity football player. We didn't quite meet then though.

It wasn't until I started going to Tennis practice..... that's where we met. I definitely noticed his eyes first, and his smile. His smile was so genuine, it made his eyes look so sparkly (still do lol) We flirted A LOT, for months. He finally asked me out.

We went and saw Great Expectations in January/February 1998. We double dated with Josh's friend Brian. We had a lot of fun, we held hands. As anyone who knows Josh from back then... he was shy. We had been talking for months on the phone, practically every day. But in person, he was shy. I was not.... After the movie he dropped me back off at my dad's place where we stood on the stairs of the apartment chit chatting. When I asked, "Are you going to Kiss me or not?" To which he replied by planting one on me. It was both of our first and second kiss ever. I love that we have that memory, although I remember it differently than he does lol

Unfortunately, due to his shyness, and my not aggressive nature (at that time lol) we never officially became a couple. We still talked often, and waved hello. Wrote Love you always in each other's yearbooks.... but we both drifted apart.

Thankfully, not too far as he was dating a friend from high school. So we saw each other semi often. I say semi often because my life took me all over the US and I really only got to see him when we went to friend functions. He was there when I got married, I was there when he got married. He was at the hospital the day I had my oldest daughter. He played and rough housed with all my children when they were really little. They just loved climbing on him. lol

Anyway... the years passed, and he had children of his own. But alas.... as life sometimes goes things changed. He became single, and I sometime after also became single. I was living in Washington state with my five children, and during a conversation it was suggested that I reach out see how he was doing.

So, I did! We have been together ever since!

We had been a couple for five years when we went to South Lake Tahoe for a little getaway. We took those fairly often, mostly to Reno. Josh was talking about how much he loved South Lake Tahoe, and different times he had been there. One day we wanted to go for a hike, so we headed to Emerald Bay. It was beautiful, all the snow, the lake and all the trees. Just beautiful. We made our way to Emerald Bay, where Josh noticed a sign about Vikingsholm a mile hike down by the water. Being as it was extremely snowy and slushie, Josh asked me if I was down to take the hike down. I said sure. So at the time Josh and I were also getting over a cold, so our breathing was strained lol. We made the trek down 1000 elevation, and it was just gorgeous. So romantic and perfect. We walked along the water's edge just enjoying the view and being together. When Josh grabbed my hand and got down on one knee and asked "Are you going to Marry Me or Not?" lol. He said some romantic stuff, and it was just perfect. I still just smile to myself every time I remember it, and how he looked.

If you read all this.... lol I hope you enjoyed my version of our love story.