So it all started when Sam and my brother (Acer) met during Boy Scouts. The Scouts were going on an insane biking trip and my entire family (minus myself) went, as well as Sam and his mom, Mary. Throughout the trip, my mom noticed how well Sam let his mom mess with his hair in front of the other boys and how sweet he was to all the parents on the trip. So my mom went up to Mary and asked if it would be alright for her to get Sam's number so she could pass it along to me. Mary was ecstatic about it so my mom went up to Sam, showed him a picture of me, and asked if she could have his number so she could give it to me when they got back. Sam said no at first, but eventually just gave her his number (I think so she would stop asking him). As soon as I saw my mom after that trip, she was more than a little excited to show off Sam to me. She showed me a picture of him, gave me his number, and told me to text him.

I had been in scouts with Zina's little brother, Acer, for his first year in the troop. As one of the older kids, it was part of my responsibility to teach them skills and help them advance. I'd seen Zina around a few times, not exactly knowing whose daughter or sister she was and we never really talked. She must have always had this crush on me because, on a camping trip, her Mom talked to my Mom about my relationship status. My Mom knew Zina about as well as I did, but we knew the Zimmermans well enough to know they were good people, so how bad could Zina be? My Mom said she wouldn't be opposed to her giving me Zina's phone number. But when she asked me, I didn't know who her daughter was so I asked for a picture. Sara showed me a picture and of course, I recognized the hot girl at all the family events. We talked all summer until we were finally both in Spokane, where we met at a movie theatre and had our first kiss. We hung out every opportunity we got after that, which was tough because we were both camp counselors in different states. We talked constantly until I was pushed into the lake with my phone in my pocket. I almost ruined it about a month later when she texted me after I had gotten a new phone because I replied: "who is this?" Long story semi-short, I have loved Zina for more than 7 years, and we might have never met if not for both of our Moms scheming with each other.

I had just texted Sam for the first time the day before, and we decided to meet up and go to the movies. It was the perfect meet because Sam was waiting for me at the theater as I was coming up the escalator. It was awkward at first but Sams charm was irresistible. We talked for a while, learning little things that we adore each other for still today. We watched X-Men First Class and actually snuck into another movie when it was over! Which is so unlike me. It was simple and perfect. We didn't see each other for a month after that, but once we were both back in the same city, we couldn't stop seeing each other as often as we could.

We went out for a sushi dinner and Sam kept reminiscing about our past six years together. We discovered that we had the same favorite date and that our favorite tradition is going to Scarywood every year. We ate way too much, had a lot of laughs, and on our way out, Sam faked out a proposal when he had to "tie his shoe" in the parking lot. When we got home, I was putting my coat and purse away, and when I turned around, Sam was on one knee. He said a few very sweet words and asked me to marry him. We both couldn't stop smiling and spent the next few days just calling each other "fiance."