07/13/2025
Summer 2016. My mom’s friend invited our family on a camping trip. I was excited but unsure if I should go—until my soon-to-be brother-in-law needed a ride, so I decided to tag along.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t get work off. He and I would head up Friday afternoon, but the rest of my family left Wednesday. And wouldn’t you know it—while I was stuck at work, they met Russ.
So, they started talking to this guy who was completely my type: sings, plays guitar, funny, bearded, drove a truck… all the early-20s must-haves. And they told him all about me. They tell him I’m coming up late and he can’t miss me. I have a bear for a dog.
It’s Friday. Me, BIL, and my 140 lbs Newfoundland dog. We arrive to the campsite and Russ comes out of his tent and offers to help me set up and helps me with the chaos of my dog laying on the tent as I try to put it up.
We part ways and my sister dragged me into our family tent and whispered, “We found your future husband!” I was like, absolutely not. I came to camp not to meet a man. I didn’t even bring makeup or cute clothes. But… he was really cute.
He asked me out almost immediately—while we were still camping. There was a golf course at the campsite (fancy, I know), and he invited me to play. I said yes and asked how much it was. He said, “Free for you.” I thought he meant because we were guests—nope, he was paying. 😅
Over the next few days, we got to know each other more. At dinner one night my dog was drooling so much. Russ during dinner is watching me occasionally clean it up. After a minute he grabs the drool with his hands and wipes it on his shorts. My family said after I should have seen my face. It could have been the moment I fell for him.
Camping ended, we exchanged numbers, and he invited me over as soon as we were home. And honestly? We’ve only spent a handful of days apart since.
It’s wild to think one spontaneous trip could change everything—but it did. I’m so grateful for that weekend, for that version of me who decided to go, and for the man who’s been inspiring me every day since.
Swipe to see photos from that very trip. Including the first ever photo of Russ and I together while fishing.
