#ForBetterOrFarias

It is impossible to condense over 8 years into a single page, but enjoy our attempt to do so below!

the first time they met. But not for each other. She had just walked in for an interview for her first job out of college. He had signed up to host a job candidate for the first time. Neither wanted to mess things up, and they were both too nervous to think about romance at the time.

She got the job. Now she worked on a closely related project team to his. Things were strictly professional between them until she showed up to work one Halloween wearing a beer wench costume. He took notice.

at a team lunch, she mentioned she wanted to learn to play guitar and was having a hard time choosing one to buy. He plays guitar. What a coincidence <devil emoji>. Out of the purely platonic kindness of his heart, he offered to meet her at a local guitar shop to help her pick one out. He claims he had no ulterior motives. She disagrees.

on a Saturday morning. They browsed, perused, and fiddled, and it was on that day that he learned just how indecisive she can be. Needless to say, no guitars were bought that day. But! An agreement was made: he would loan her his spare. In return, he would…also teach her to play. Seems a bit one-sided in retrospect.

volleyball leagues, late night guitar lessons, and giddy work IMs laced with custom-made emojis, the flirtation was real. Prolonged glances, adjusting fingers on fretboards, extra nudges on the volleyball court – racing hearts.

to invite her to a concert. Their first date. Run River North at the Cactus Café. He swung by her sister’s house to pick her up. She wasn’t ready. And it was on that day that he learned just how long it can take her to leave the house. The wait was worth it.

became a core figure in their relationship. They shared tickets to ACL, Penny & Sparrow, Local Natives, and any other show they could manage. They sang karaoke, danced, and laughed the night away on multiple occasions.

Dates, apartments, promotions, surprise children, scares, laughs, homeownership, arguments, forgiveness, and, through it all, lots and lots of love...and then they decided to go camping.

at Garner State Park. She and their two young boys woke to find a rough, rolled-up piece of paper dangling in front of the tent. It was a map! And a key! He had been captured by pirates for stealing their treasure! She and the boys followed the map, navigating together through the trails and looking for clues. They finally arrived at his location to find him sitting beside a river, his hands bound. They untied him and he led them to the treasure.

tossing aside leaves, sticks, and dirt, and unlocked it. It creaked open, metal clasp and handles clanking against the sides. In it, they found gold coins, watches for the boys, and a small black box for her. It was then that she understood the significance of this treasure hunt. She opened the box.

Under a canopy of oak, cedar, and pine – surrounded by reds, oranges, yellows, and the ripples and riffs of the Frio River, he dropped to one knee, took her hands, and asked her to marry him. With tears rolling down her cheeks, she said yes.

Alison + Samuel Photo below captured by our 6-year-old photographer.