Sam's Account / El testimonio:

I recall my first impression of Marisol well. When I looked up from my booth it was as if someone had cracked a door to a stuffy room and let in a beam of sunlight accompanied by a breath of fresh air. She even laughed and accepted a second date after I had too much to drink trying to quell the burn of some spicy muscles that we shared on our first evening together.

A few dates later I recall the first time I stopped and realized we may spend the rest of our lives together. We were finishing a waterfall hike and she slid on some loose dirt down a hill. We didn't know it at the time, but her ankle was broken. While I carried her / she limped back to the car, I could tell how nervous and uncomfortable she was. But she asked me "Does this mean you won't take me hiking anymore?" "Do you want to go look at the frogs you hear in the pond" and "Can we still get Ice cream?" Since then when I looked at her, I saw my wife more and more often.

Marisol followed me from medical school in Missouri to residency in Wisconsin. Along the way I found someone who rivaled my love for animals, surpassed even my drive to step outside and explore and quite frankly, she elevates every aspect of life. Even grocery shopping has become an anticipated event in my week as long as she is there.

After carefully and secretly getting her a ring, I took her to the first State park we visited in Wisconsin together. I distracted her with a pair of binoculars and the promise of a Barred owl with chicks. While she was distracted I popped the question, and this website is the result of her answer.

Marisol's account: I remember the first time I laid my eyes on Sam, I was walking into Beast & Barrel for our first date when the hostess walked me towards the nicest blue booth in the corner. It was then I looked down to see a curly headed man with his glasses perched on his forehead and him squinting at the menu... if you know Sam you know that this is a common occurrence for him when he is deep in thought. What followed was a wonderful conversation about us, family, goals and so much more. At the conclusion of our date, Sam turns to me and asks "Did I earn myself a second date?", to which I responded yes.

Fast forward a handful of dates later, we are on a short hike in NWA where I slid down a hill and heard/felt a "pop" in my ankle. I was embarrassed to have had an audience witness my fall but the whole world disappeared when Sam went doctor mode and evaluated my ankle and carried me through the water onto flat ground. I asked him if we could still get ice cream as to not ruin the rest of our date and I truly feared that he would never want to take me hiking again due to my clumsiness, but I was pleasantly surprised when he stood by my side even more after my surgery and throughout my physical therapy and healing journey. From a surprise picnic at Wildcat Glades, to dropping flowers off at the surgery center, to renting a wheelchair for me in order to take me to the Renaissance Fair- I knew then that Sam cared for me and that this could be my forever.

Moving away with Sam after Match Day seemed like the best choice and with the support of our family and friends we knew that this was a forever type of love.

Sam and I are excited for these next steps in our future and saying "yes" to him has been the easiest "yes" for me.

Testimonio de Marisol: Recuerdo la primera vez que conocí a Sam, estaba entrando a Beast & Barrel para nuestra primera cita cuando la huéspeda me llevo hacia la mesa azul en la esquina. Fue en ese momento que mire a un hombre con cabello rizado y sus lentes en su frente mirando hacia el menú... para los que conocen a Sam ustedes saben que esto es algo común para el cuando esta profundamente en sus pensamientos. Lo que siguio fue una conversación maravillosa sobre nosotros, nuestra familia, nuestros sueños y deseos y mucho mas. En la conclusion de nuestra cita, Sam voltio hacia mi y me pregunto"¿Me gane una segunda cita contigo?" al cual yo respondí que si.

Unas citas después, fuimos a caminar en un parque en Arkansas cuando desafortunadamente me resbalé y escuche un "pop" en mi tobillo para luego enterrarme que me quebré el tobillo. Estaba tan avergonzada de tener una audienca mirar cuando me caí y no me podia levantar pero el mundo desapareció cuando Sam se puso en modo de doctor y evaluó mi tobillo y me llevo cargando por el rio a terreno plano. Le pregunte si podríamos comprar una nieve para no arruinar el resto de nuestra cita. En realidad temía que el no me quisiera llevar en mas excursiones por causa de mi torpeza pero me sorprendió cuando estuvo conmigo durante mi terapia. Desde sorprenderme con una comida en Wildcat Glades, hasta llevarme flores al centro quirúrgico antes de mi cirugía, y rentar una silla de ruedas para poder llevarme a la Feria Renacentista- sabia que Sam me quería y que lo que teníamos podría ser para siempre.

Mudarme con Sam a Wisconsin después de su "match" en la escuela medica para poder completar su especialidad de medicina fue la mejor decision para nosotros. Lo mas importante para nosotros es tener el apoyo de nuestras familias y que ellos puedan ver que esto es el amor verdadero.

Sam y yo estamos felices por estos próximos pasos en nuestras vidas y decirle "si" a ser su esposa ha sido el "si" mas fácil para mi.