Pre-Deputy Wife

     For being only twenty nine years old I have led a crazy adventurous life. I spent most of my childhood learning responsibility on my grandparents farm in Arizona and playing in the woods with my "always a child at heart" father. I was a good student and loved my after school sports. Horses were a huge part of my life, and in high school I became an exercise rider for a nearby racehorse farm. I spent many days speeding around the track with my hair flowing in the wind and my adrenaline shooting past threshold.        

     Later, I desired a new adventure. I took on BMX racing, and within a short time I was offered a college cycling scholarship to one of the best teams on the East Coast. While earning my Bachelors in Biology I raced hard winning 5 Individual National College Cycling Titles, along with many team titles. Once graduated, I moved back to the other side of the country and settled in Colorado where I continued to pursue my cycling career. Colorado opened many doors for new adventures. Colorado became my home.

     I settled into a small town in the foothills where I joined the local Volunteer Fire Department. Since than, I have become a certified EMT and Wildland Firefighter. Through my life experiences  it has become evident that my career must involve being outdoors in the mountains. As a child, my father would take me to the fire lookout towers where the views were never ending. Perhaps that was when my passion to fight wildland fires started.

     Now, I am a part of a very special wildland firefighting team. A small, tight-knit crew that knows how to get the job done, but have fun at the same time. The job itself is amazing, but the best part about it is my very supportive husband. His career allows him to have a better understanding of mine. There are times when I am sent to different parts of the country to fight fire, and he is home taking care of the family. I am so grateful I am able to continue chasing my dreams and adventures with his support. If you know me, there is no holding me down in one spot. My adventures are amazing, and I love sharing my stories. 

The Proposal - Written by my Husband

     It didn't take but a day to know that I was in love with Monique and that I could not be without her. She is an incredible spirit that literally changed my life for the better.  A good friend of mine asked me it I was sure.  And I had no doubt at all that I was sure.  I told him that when you know, you know.  It is an unbelievable feeling that just comes over you. So I worked up the courage and decided to ask her to marry me.  I picked the place to propose to Monique.  She would always tell me during her rides, her favorite view was of Sawtooth Mountain on the Peak to Peak Hwy.  

     So I planned a day of it on March 9th. It started out by us taking a morning drive to Peaceful Valley, which is next to her favorite view.  This is the spot I had planned on the big question.  I was nervous and sweating.  Sweating, it was below freezing that day and I still produced the sweat.   We stopped on the side of the road to take in the sights of Sawtooth Mountain.  But that morning the clouds had completely covered the mountain making the view not as desirable.  And I could not ask her until the view was perfect.  

I could not ask her without her Mountain showing in the background.  We chose to get some lunch in Nederland.  We had pizza, which caused me to have huge heartburn.  With my stomach already a mess, this was a great choice.  After a couple of hours, we drove to Monique's favorite view and again.  When we got there, the clouds had moved on the view was incredible.  

     There we were, on the side of the road staring at the mountain.  It was my moment to ask but it did not come out.  The cars driving by distracted me.  Plus, I felt asking her on the side of the road was not romantic.  Now I had to think on the fly.  There was a dirt road where we were parked that lead to the Peacefully Valley Ranch's Mountain Top Wedding site.  

     It was perfect, except for the 3 feet of snow we trekked to get to it.  We finally got there and what an even better view.  So there we were, walking around the site, taking in the view and watching Monique, gorgeous as always, enjoy being where she loves it most....Outdoors!  I knew this was the place to ask her.  We were out there for probably 30 minutes and I kept chickening out.  

It was so cold and windy we decided to leave and I still haven't asked.  My time was running out.  Before we left the house that day, I put the ring in my left pocket of my fleece jacket.  We were walking out and I took Monique and held her.  Blocking her from the wind and my heart was pumping.  

     My plan was to get her to reach into my pocket and grab the camera.  There I was, working up the courage to put the plan in action and boom....Monique puts her hands in my pockets to keep them warm.  Talk about game time and no turning back.

       I knew when she felt the ring box because she stopped and looked at me.  She asked what that was and pulled out the box.  She literally gasped when she saw it.  I had this speech and plan in my head but when she gasped I stuttered through it.  When I asked her to marry me, the answer was in my favor and she said yes immediately.  I put the ring on her finger and surprise, I picked the right size.  This was truly the happiest day of my life.  I had met the one person that truly loved me with no influence from anyone but her own heart. 

How We Met

     It all started on a cold night in January (2011) around 2am. I was extremely comfortable in my bed when my fire pager sounded loudly. “Fire, respond to……blah blah blah……on a male patient who fainted in the bathroom.” No the patient was not Steve. I crawled out of bed, ran across the street to the department, jumped in my bunker pants, and off I went in the ambulance. 

     With my partner completing the patient exam, I stood close by taking notes. It was than the magic began, I saw a Deputy walk into the house. Yes, he definitely caught my eye, but I am a professional woman so I continued my work. However, every once in a while I would see this handsome man looking at me and I could not help but take a sneak peak back. Steve will tell you he was “totally checking me out” because I “looked so damn good in bunker pants and a beanie.” As the call came to an end, we both left hardly exchanging any words. It was a short meeting, but the beginning of something amazing.

     Fast forward to February. A small issue led me to the local Sub Station where I needed to make a police report. As I sat in the tiny office writing out my report I heard the door open.  I looked up and…..wait what was I writing about in my report? I lost all concentration. There was a moment where everything stopped in the world. Our eyes met, my attention quickly drawn back to the piece of paper in front of me, my face probably slightly red. He introduced himself, and walked into a nearby office. I handed over my report to the Deputy handling my case and he handed me a business card letting me know if I had any questions or concerns to call him. Steve walked back into the main office and pulled out one of his business cards as well. He than handed it to me and said “I am on duty all night. Call if you need anything.”

     I went home that night and all I could think about was the handsome man in the uniform and I grabbed that business card of his. Was he just being nice….or was he really interested. Well, only one way to find out, from there we spent the next few days really getting to know each other. On his days off work we spent endless hours hanging out and telling each other’s life stories. This included a midnight trip to Del Taco on the first night and by the third night he made me dinner. I was drawn to him instantly. I fell in love with this man so quickly and he too fell in love with me. This was no infatuation; this was true, endless love. By day 5 he was knocking on my front door and when I opened it all he could say was “I love you, I am in love with you.”