"Alissa (Soliel), if only you were ten years older, you and Billy Jack (Cayman) would definitely be dating!"

- Adventure Mountain Staff 2004

I take you for my lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part.I take you for my lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part.I take you for my lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part.I take you for my lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part.I take you for my lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part.I take you for my lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part.I take you for my lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part.I take you for my lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part.I take you for my lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part.I take you for my lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part.I take you for my lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part.I take you for my lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part.I take you for my lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part.I take you for my lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part.I take you for my lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part.

We first met at Forest Home Summer 2003 when Alissa came up with Brittany Peters to counsel 3rd-5th graders for a week at Indian Village. Alissa was very impressed with this guy named Cayman (Billy Jack), who was the camp director. She loved his personality, leadership abilities, & charisma. At the end of the week, Cayman offered Brittany & Alissa jobs for the following summer. Alissa was excited about this prospect, but was not sure if it would happen. In the Spring 2004 we had our infamous 3 hour interview at Islands. What made that afternoon so special was a conversation of depth and authenticity--we talked about faith, the scriptures, & what it means to be a participant in the Kingdom of God in the here-and-now. The connection and friendship was instant--10 minutes into the conversation Cayman paused, & said, "Ok, look. You are hired, so lets just spend the rest of this interview just chatting, because this is great. "

Over the course of summer '04, '05, & '06 we developed a friendship of true depth, respect, & admiration for one another. What made our friendship great was that it was just that, authentic friendship! There was a 10 year age difference, Billy Jack was Alissa's boss & mentor, & at the time, developing a relationship outside those boundaries really did not emerge. We were truly just friends...honestly.

Throughout those years we had so many great conversations: at camp, at Islands, over chai (Claire De Lunes), El Mex during the summer staff meetings, over the phone & email... basically any chance we could find to spend time, talk, & laugh together we would.

Now, there were times where we would wonder about the other... like one time, while at a summer staff gathering at the Jimmy Kimmel show in Hollywood, CA., Billy Jack was talking to a friend & saw this blonde in front of him. Not thinking about who it was, he wondered, "Man, who is that? She is beautiful." It was Alissa. Interesting.

Another time at a staff gathering at a beach in Laguna, Billy Jack was with Alissa while waiting for other staff to arrive. As she strolled down the beach talking to a friend on her cell, Billy Jack thought to himself, "Man, Soliel (Alissa) is hot!" At the time, it was a fleeting thought...at the time.

One night at a staff gathering we were asked the question, "If you could date anyone on staff, who would if be?" Alissa quickly knew her answer...She would date Cayman (Billy Jack).

Throughout the friendship Alissa had multiple conversations with her Mom about how wonderful Cayman (Billy Jack) was, how much she cared for him, & what an amazing connection they had. She even told her Mom that he was the role model for qualities that she wanted in the guys she would date. Alissa would wonder, "If only I was a little older, would we date?" Interesting.

Through a series of particularly difficult events beginning in '06, Alissa & Billy Jack became increasingly close. Alissa turned to Billy Jack to help her through these rough times, & he encouraged, supported, & cared for her in such a beautiful way. Through the shadows, he helped point her towards the light. Our friendship & care for one another deepened even further & in early '07 feelings began to shift and change...

In the Spring of '07 Alissa made a very bold move. She was trying to decide if she would work another summer at Adventure Mountain. So, after some wise counsel, she drove down to San Diego (listening to Let Go by Frou Frou) to meet Billy Jack at Claire de Lunes. Billy Jack was sad because he expected that Alissa would tell him she would not be able to work that following summer. However, he was in for a big surprise. Alissa told Billy Jack that there was something important she needed to tell him. She said, "I have feelings for you." Alissa knew that she was not ready to start a relationship with Billy Jack, but she wanted to be honest about her feelings. Regardless of his answer, she was confident that they would continue to have an amazing friendship, so she was not worried about his response; she just needed to know either way. After explaining her thought process, Billy Jack left her with, "You know, the door is open..."

Driving away Alissa felt very positive & confident that both would handle the situation well. Gradually, Alissa & Billy Jack began talking on the phone & texting everyday. Our connection grew even more. One dinner at Damon and Pythias (one of our favorite places to eat in Westwood), over his half-eaten salad, Billy Jack told Alissa that he had feelings for her too. We agreed that we would not date for months, or even the entire year to follow. Right!

Summer '07 at Adventure Mountain confirmed our feelings for one another. We would frequently discuss where we stood & affirm how amazing the other person was. We really tried to stay appropriate with the situation - given Billy Jack was Alissa's boss. By the end of the summer, we changed our original plan & decided that we were ready to start dating. It was fun to see the different reactions of the staff members as we told them that we were dating. For most who had spent time with us, it made perfect sense.

Dating during Alissa's senior year at UCLA was full of challenges, but we worked through them. Long distance was hard & both of us were very busy, yet, we continued to work through tough conversations & challenges. We continued to give each other love, grace, patience, & understanding. We had wonderful dates in Westwood, enjoyed cheering at UCLA football & basketball games, going to Pi Phi date parties, days at the SD Zoo, Disneyland, of course hanging with friends from UCLA, Forest Home, etc.

In the Fall '08 Alissa went to Tanzania for almost four months to volunteer with a non-profit. It was one of the hardest things for both of us to say goodbye to each other, but we both knew we would grow & learn so much during our time apart. It helped knowing that Billy Jack would come to Tanzania at the end of Alissa's program. Our time apart was difficult, but it affirmed our deep love & commitment. When Billy Jack came to Tanzania, we climbed to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro together, relaxed on the beautiful beaches of the island of Zanzibar, ice skated below the Tower of London, & stood at the top of the Eiffel Tower. We were so blessed to travel & have amazing adventures together after being apart for so long!

2009 has passed so quickly. We both knew that we wanted to marry each other & spend life together! In June we went ring shopping & openly discussed moving toward marriage. Alissa was completely surprised & delighted by the proposal on August 12! Billy Jack brilliantly executed his plan of going to all the places that have been significant in our relationship, ending with a proposal on our couch in Claire de Lunes - the place where Alissa first told Billy Jack that she had feelings for him (We now try to sit there every time we go to Claire De Lunes).

Our journey together is marked by so many places, experiences, conversations, & moments spent together. But most of all, our relationship is about a friendship of depth, profound care & admiration for each other, & a magic that can only be described by love. Many of our friends like to poke fun at how many times in an hour we call each other "baby." While it is a bit obnoxious at times, it is rooted in an authentic love & affection for one another that is unexplainable at times. Billy Jack loves Alissa. Alissa loves Billy Jack. We are devoted & committed to each other. We choose each other over everyone & everything else. We always wondered what it would be like to have this type of connection with another. It is like magic!

I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part. I take you for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part.

&

ALiSSA

BiLLY JACK