The Future Richard Family: Chapter One: The Beginning aka How I Suckered Paul into Marrying Me!

Paul and I officially met Senior year of High School (go Coyotes) in Ms. Newton's literature class. I sat in the front and he sat in the back. It's up for debate if we ever exchanged words, but I defiantly noticed the handsome, tall man. I was just sure my incredibly extroverted personality freaked/ creeped out Paul's quiet but thoughtful outlook on life.

Three years later, a friend invited me to attend a month long backpacking trip. The only person I thought I knew going was the friend who invited me- boy was I going to be surprised. Seeing as I had never been camping-- I agreed to go. (God's first miracle in our relationship) Then I had to break the news to my mother. For someone who was afraid to let me sleep in my tree house because of bears in the suburbs she miraculously let me go (God's second miracle in our relationship). I showed up to the informational meeting and my heart jumped when I saw Paul, I suddenly got super excited.

Our first day on the trail, we were hiking the Teton Crest Trail, we somehow got very lost and added a few miles (to our 15 to 18 mile hike). I went to sleep that night silently crying in my sleeping bag, but I kept reminding myself how this trip was very worth it!

On our second day we were hiking and I fell down a steep grade of rocks. I somehow used my ice axe to slow me down, but my pack had slipped up and kept pushing my face into the ground. I was the last one down, and I was freaking out. Before I knew it Paul had re-climbed the trail and came and got me (he didn't even make fun of me). I think it was that moment I knew he was the one for me. He never officially asked me out--it was just known that we were together.

A month and 4 national parks later we were inseparable.

With the love of my life before we hiked the Grand Canyon. You have to love that I have to stand on my pack to reach Paul

Hiking in Yellowstone

Sliding down the trail in the Tetons in Wyoming


Paul and I in Zion, Utah We love climbing trees

When we arrived home it was as if we had been together for years. When you're with someone 24 hours a day for as long as we were, without the escape of TV, Facebook, or other distractions you know if you can spend the rest of your life with them.

Were we spend most of our days

Paul felt the same way. Throughout the time we were traveling Paul had planned to take the semester off and continue traveling. But a week into classes, much to my happiness Paul met with CU advisers, got accepted, applied for classes, and got on campus housing. (all on the same day- another Godly miracle)