Our paths actually crossed a few times before we started to really get to know each other. We both attended school at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, but only met for the first time because we had some mutual friends. I soon learned Jordan had already graduated and was only visiting friends in Eau Claire while actually living in Wausau. This was the beginning of alternating weekends between Eau Claire and Wausau. The first time I went to Wausau marked our first official date complete with homemade fish tacos and a chance for just the two of us to talk. From there, we knew we wanted to keep seeing each other, so things became official between us and we started dating. While I finished up school in Eau Claire, we kept visiting each other on the weekends, which was difficult for us being in a brand new relationship. We wanted to see each other more and had later talked about what we both wanted after I graduated. We both decided to move in with each other in Wausau! The last semester of school felt very long because we were both looking forward to finally being in the same city and making the step to move in together! Once the time finally came, I made the move to Wausau and moved into Jordans apartment. A few weeks later, I was offered admission to a graduate program in La Crosse and Jordan was offered a new job in Madison. We were so unsure of what to do. We knew we could do long distance again, but we were finally in the same city. We both decided to decline our offers and looking back, we’re glad we made that choice because flash forward a little over two years together and Jordan proposed at Rib Mountain State Park in Wausau! We are so excited to continue to grow our relationship through marriage and have our closest friends and family in Mexico with us to tie the knot!
On December 23, 2018 Jordan and I were driving around Wausau running errands like any normal weekend. It was especially windy and cold that day so when Jordan suggested we make a stop up at Rib Mountain State Park, I was a little confused. Still, I said sure and we headed that way. It seemed like we were just going to take a drive around the top of the mountain and take in the views, but then we drove past the ski hill and he suggested we get out and take a look. He said he just wanted to see how steep the hills were and how much it might cost to go skiing for the day. I have never been skiing and I’ve told Jordan multiple times about how I’m too scared to try to ski, so now I was getting suspicious..and a little cranky if you ask Jordan! We parked at an open lot near the ski hill and got out of the vehicle. There was an overlook area nearby where Jordan walked us towards. He said he wanted to see how steep the ski hills were. He peered over the balcony and then back at me, then back over the balcony. At this point I knew something was up. I told him you could tell the hills were steep from just looking at them at the bottom of the mountain and that I didn’t understand why we needed to drive all the way up to Rib Mountain for a closer look! Did I mention it was freezing outside? I said we should get back in the vehicle and as I started to motion to walk off of the balcony, he grabbed my hand and got down on one knee. Right then and there, it all made sense. He asked me to marry him and of course I said yes! He definitely surprised me and we were both very excited to be able to share our news with family and friends in person with Christmas happening a few days after he proposed!