One would think that seven years in the same ward would provide ample time to get to know everyone. That certainly wasn't the case for us. It took 7+ years, a pack trip to the Trinity Alps and a little help from our friends to bring us together.

Last September, Katie organized a trip to the Trinity Alps for a long weekend. We were running short on guys and a common friend invited Lee to join the group. Lucky for Katie, Lee and his 1,800 pounds of photography equipment were able to come! That weekend gave us both enough time around each other to know we wanted to learn more about the other and spend additional time together. Over the next three - four weeks Katie bounced all over the country, but when she was in town -- we found opportunities to hang out.

It didn't take long for Katie to realize there was a lot more to the Idaho farm boy that she originally thought. He seemed to break all sorts of molds and spoiled her with his unbeatable homemade ice cream and culinary skills. Come mid-October, we were spending an awful lot of time together. We seemed to experience some sort of time warp and after just six to eight weeks of dating Lee joined the Kalembas (and extended family) for Thanksgiving in Logan, Utah. His stellar performance that weekend pretty much sealed the deal for Katie and her family. The same held true during her visits to the Merricks households over the holidays. And just a few short weeks later -- Lee planned the most perfect and unforgettable evening and proposed to Katie.

It's been a pretty fabulous six + months as we've traveled to Utah, Idaho, Oregon and Wisconsin to spend time with family. We've also hosted family here in Palo Alto, explored Death Valley for the first time and even managed to sneak in a few weekends in the Sierra's to ski and snowboard. Our adventures have slowed just a little as we've been on the wedding planning roller coaster -- but it's all coming together. We now have a new apartment that Katie has moved into and we hope to have everything all set for when we return from our trip to Canada in mid-June.

We are excited about June 7 and all the celebrations that follow. Hope to see you there!