#Leap4Love2020

Christina had just moved to California for her new job and was in search of a place to live. She randomly found this townhouse she liked in La Jolla and requested for a tour. On December 6 2014, she met Lucas and their roommate, passed the interview, and got her foot in the door. Little did she know that Lucas and her were going to become best friends. January 18 2015 was their first hike at Torrey Pines together. This was the first of what would be many excursion as they explored the new city together. Their relationship grew stronger by the day, and in September 2015 they officially started dating.

Maybe because they met as roommates, or maybe because they started out as friends, either way the couple never had that classic "first date". The hallmark of their relationship occurred on their first Valentines together as they made their first trip as a couple to Cancun, Mexico. It was exciting for the two as this was the first time they have traveled out of the country together, and the first time they traveled alone. The couple spent the first two days completing their Dive Certification as they explored the reefs off the coast of Playa Del Carmen, and the caverns at Dos Ojos Cenote. In between, they snorkeled with sea turtles in Akumul Bay, and explored the local city. On the last day of this short, but full trip, the couple rented a scooter and cruised around Cozumel, stopping at beaches and huts. It was the first time they really came together and felt as an established couple. While they would go on to have many more trips in the future, this trip and this location still holds a special place in their hearts.

As soon as Luke got out of school, proposing to Christina was his only goal. He wanted to propose to her at the same place where they first hiked in Torrey Pines. This was the place that Luke first knew Christina was someone special, and to him, it was where it all begun. He coordinated with three of their friends to decorate the site ahead of time and film the entire proposal. During this time, Luke had started doing “Date Days” with Christina where every weekend they would spend one day alone doing something special. On this particular day, the couple spent the afternoon walking down the boardwalk in Pacific Beach. They then headed to Torrey Pines where Luke insisted that they go on a sunset hike before their dinner. Luke was nervous all day, but Christina had no idea. Luke had stuffed the bulky ring box into his pocket and prayed that Christina wouldn’t have seen it. The hike took much longer than he expected and he begun to worry about their friends, the park closing, and was nervous that the whole plot may be ruined. However, it turned out perfect. By the time the couple reached the site, the sun had just set enough to allow the candles to illuminate the area beneath the red washed sky. On the railings hung flowered garlands and a picture of the couple that they had taken on their first venture there over 3 years before. During the proposal, Luke reminded Christina of their first trip here, and of all the adventures they’ve had together. He was so nervous that he was afraid he would have dropped the ring box as he got down on one knee. But she said "YES!", and their friends who had snuck up behind them to film all cheered.