Alaska, July 1-6, 2022

While visiting family in Alaska, I met the most kindhearted, hardworking, and loving man I’ve ever met. From the beginning I felt drawn to Colden and I believe many others feel that too, because he truly is the most inviting and kind man. He radiates a positivity and joy that the world needs much more of, and I felt that from the moment we talked. 
Colden and I met in a little Koa campground, which was gorgeous, but camping like that was unlike either of us. His family had been camping, hiking, and enjoying the Alaskan wilderness until that specific day when they needed showers. So the only open campsite near them was that one. Similarly, we had been going to the next campsite a couple hours away, however, it was closed. So we stopped at the only one we could find open, which happened to be the same stop his family made. I remember pulling up next to their site and seeing their tarp draped over a bent over tree, connected to the suburban and a tent. I thought to myself “these people know how to have fun” and didn’t think much of it after that. I had noticed coldens family but we left soon after we set up a tent cause my family was all starving. 

When we arrived back to the campsite and got settled in, we decided to play night games and have fun around the campground. Long story short and after a lot of quick glances at each other, my sister invited them to join us and both my sister Kenlee and his brother Dalton claim they were the matchmakers, but they said yes and we had a blast until 1-2 in the morning. At the end of it I felt like I had to find some way to communicate with this person. I asked if they had instagram or some sort of Facebook so it wasn’t as personal, but colden offered his number and Snapchat. I had actually just went through a breakup and didn’t want anything to do with relationships, however, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had to have some way to contact this man eventually. I agreed. We continued to call and talk or text for the next year. I wouldn’t date him or be romantic because he lived across the country, and I hadn’t yet gotten to hangout with him in person much. He was understanding but still put in so much effort to find time to talk to me. Which was impressive because he worked all night and had school all day. After telling him I couldn’t date someone long distance and growing distant, I thought there was no way I was ever going to get a chance with this man. God knew we needed each other though and towards the end of high school, we started to reconnect. I still tried to avoid any type of relationship as to not get my hope up for someone I may never see again, but God had other plans. Colden wanted to become a hunting guide, and after graduation he moved to Cody, Wyoming with some of his other amazing family, and started working. Now that he was so close we talked about maybe hanging out. He drove hours to come meet me and we hung out. We instantly clicked and he started driving up every weekend. Not too long after hanging out we started dating and 2 years later here we are. I truly have never been so in sync with someone. He has brought me closer to God and I strive to be as good of a person as he is everyday. I’m forever grateful for him and now grateful for his family and the kindness and love they have shown me as I’ve got to know them. I’m excited for many more years and adventures together