And me climbing in/out of bushes, balancing on the back of benches, pushing branches out of my face to avoid loosing an eye, and laying in a bed of deer turds, all for the sake of making a moment the perfect moment.
Nothing of "love" interest was in the air for the two missionairies. After all... they had other work to focus on.
Time went by and both came home from their missions.
The real deal started when Bryan invited Erika to drive an hour to Logan and have "an adventure". Erika drove that hour to Logan without really knowing what she was getting herself into. Bryan is my cousin and I've known him since birth, so I know how much of a risk Erika was taking.
He's crazy....crazy awesome. A crazy good risk that led up to a year of dating...
In that year of dating, I met Erika for the first time at our family cabin in Bear Lake. I knew I liked the idea of her to be with the family the moment we laughed our heads off till the wee hours of the morning over making Rice Krispies and talking about boys who can in fact, "handle it".
Handle what? Anything and everything that us girls are made of.
In this year of dating there was a break between the two...Bryan was on the verge of moving to Salt Lake City to attend the University of Utah and in the meantime have a life changing jaw surgery. They decided that a break may be good thing for awhile.
And dear sweet Erika, honey, it was a good thing you didn't have to see poor Bryan after surgery. He looked like a sluffy lump or in Grandma Elaine's words a "slobber dick".
.JPG)
However... Love prevailed!
Bryan kept having the feeling to keep in contact with Erika. They kept contacting each other and talking of anything and everything ultimately leading to Erika moving down to Salt Lake and them dating full time all the time.
Bryan told me one weekend at the cabin that they were planning on getting married. It was just a matter of time to find the ring and set it up as a surprise. He asked me to be the surprise photo taker, I gladly accepted the new challenge for me.
We arrived early to set up the moment.
The chandelier was hidden by the darkness of night in the tree tops, you'd never know it was there unless you set it up with us.
Waiting to assume position...the not so subtle hint the knee was going to hit the ground was Bryan letting out a loud cough to signal the light be turned on.
On their way...!!
I sat crouching for what seemed an eternity getting ready to jump up and start snapping left and right. It's always the moment you find the perfect hiding place and have to be quiet when the "pee spell" hits your bladder.
(pitch dark, she has no idea I am 8 ft away from her)
Erika: "It's crazy how a one hour drive got us all the way to here."
Bryan: "Yep, and now were here." (He said that like 4 times, think he was nervous?)
...lets out a big cough...
...chandelier turns on....
"Erika Ann Richman, will you marry me and start a life long adventure with me?"
Shock...and a "Oh my gosh! I really didn't think it would be tonight!"
Would ya look at that sparkler? Courtesy of S.E. Needham Jewelers
Ahhh! Can't wait to do third wheeling dates...only slightly joking friends. These two are a good time whether I'm third wheel or not.
Yes indeed look how far you guys have come after one year. Look at all the things you have done and grown together in so many ways. That one hour drive is turning into one whole eternity together. One little risk...
"It is a risk to love. What if it doesn't work out? Ah, but what if it does."
-Peter McWilliams-
