We met in college and had our first date on February 12th, 2021 at Mike and Rhonda's, which is a local brunch place in Flagstaff, AZ. We immediately had a connection and set up our next date for the following week and we started seeing each other about once a week until Ben left Flagstaff. So about three months into our relationship, we had to go long distance. While our distance wasn't as far as most long distance relationships, we still struggled with being unable to live together or even seeing each other on a regular basis. We did however, find what worked for us to continue on in a healthy relationship. We talked nearly every day via phone call or video chat, we tried to visit each other as much as possible with our busy schedules, and of course bowling against each other as it's one of our favorite activities to do together.

It all started out with our first big trip together, which was for our one year anniversary. We both hadn't left Arizona in the last two years at least due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so we decided we wanted to go to San Diego. Just to give some context: Ben and his mother used to go to San Diego alot as a way of bonding; and Kelsey used to live in the San Diego area and has so many happy memories there. Our first full day in San Diego was our anniversary so we went bowling, had some amazing Philly cheesesteaks, and then decided we were going to drive to Coronado island and walk around. After a while of walking around and looking in the shops, Ben prompts us to walk over to the beach. The sun was starting to set, we set up our towels and start to relax when Ben says he's going to walk out to put his feet in the water. Kelsey waits for him to come back and decides she wants to do the same thing, so she walks out to the water taking pictures of the sunset and water along the way. When she gets back and sits down, Ben tells her to check his snapchat story, (I know, we're such Gen Z), and there is his proposal and she looks over at him and he is holding the most beautiful ring she's ever seen which just so happens to be his maternal grandmother's. Kelsey says "Yes!" and is filled with shock and happiness. The ring fits perfectly without having been sized at all which is just a cherry on top. This was the perfect start to their anniversary weekend.