"Gratitude helps you fall in love with the life that you already have."
I like this quote. I've been spending a lot of time reflecting lately. I don't know if it's because it's the end of another year or that I signed up for more google storage so I can backup and view my recent album of 42,246 photos from my phone (I like to take pictures, obviously). But I have found myself scrolling through old photos more often.
One memory that I continue to revisit as I backup my rather large digital memory log is our engagement. I love a good story and our journey from the first hello to the on one knee in the snowy mountains is one of my favorites!
And for a mountain lover, this set up was perfect.
Picture this.
It's the middle of January. I was planning a trip to visit my mom in Colorado for a week before I settled into my new home and job down south. Trevor decided he wanted to come with me, and kind of hijacked my plans and girl time I was looking forward to. He was adamant about wanting to go and get to know my mom better; and with their rocky start, I figured it was probably a good idea.
The Grand Tetons have been on my bucket list for a long time. The same goes for snow shoeing. I've been to CO a thousand times and have never played in the snow ... yes, that includes skiing. It's on the list! Trevor jumped on the Teton idea since we would be fairly close to WY and took lead in planning a weekend trip with my mom to snowshoe in Jackson Hole! How fun right? With a daunting 7 hour drive right after the initial 16, we booked the trip.
We headed out after work and made our way through the long 16 hour haul in the night. The wind was against us the entire way, clocking a whopping 8-10mpg in his truck. Yikes.
When we arrived in Fort Collins, we did a quick shop for some winter gear. I almost convinced myself out of going on the trip because I couldn't find any snow pants ... but with Trevors unusual patience in helping me find what I needed, we took off!
Jackson Hole was amazing. Truly a scene out of a Christmas Hallmark movie. And who doesn't love Hallmark? ;)
The first day we planned to snowshoe to Taggart Lake. The experience was awesome! The weather was perfect. Low 20s. Fairly cloudy. The mountains were a bit shaded, but the scenery was breathtaking.
We snow shoed to Bradly lake first. Took a break to play on the snow covered, frozen lake. Then we headed towards Taggart lake.
As we got closer, the wind started to pick up. It began to snow -- and by snow, I mean it was vigorously pelting us in the face, practically a white out. We started to bundle up more and cover our faces -- thankfully Trevor had a backup old head-warmer for me, otherwise I wouldn't have made it. I was ready to turn around and head back, but we were so close so we decided to see the lake, take a quick pic, then quickly abort hike. When we got to the lake, it was like we entered a little protected bubble. The wind was blocked and we could actually enjoy a brief, quiet moment on the lake!
Trevor was acting pretty strange, and before I knew it he was "proposing." I quote that because he basically started talking about sweet nothings in the middle of my mom taking silly pictures of us, and I clearly wasn't getting the hint. Until he hit the knee.
Frozen, snow covered lake. Grand Tetons. Faded headwear. Snot on the face. Mom capturing it all. Perfection.
To say my first experience snow shoeing was amazing and memorable is an under statement.
Engaged in the Tetons. One of my favorite stories yet <3
So as I sit here, going through all the google memories of this past year, I am grateful. For all the ups, downs and in-betweens. It's been quite the journey to get here, and I wouldn't change a thing. Falling in love with my life and the beginning of becoming a Stanley all over again through these sweet digital memories.
Life is good.
"Let joy be your continual feast. Make your life a prayer. And in the midst of everything be always giving thanks, for this is God's perfect plan for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5, 16-18 TPT
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