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Chris & Erica October 4, 2014
Photographed by Jennifer Mooney Photography www.jennifermooney.com
Who are we?
Erica Terrell - In 2003, after graduating from the University of Texas at Austin, I wanted to try my hand in the “mountain town” life, so I loaded up my 4Runner and headed north to Whitefish. While hitting the slopes was the daily goal, I still had to earn a decent wage, so I worked as a waitress until I landed my current position as the Director of Marketing for Glacier Restaurant Group. I also serve as chairperson for the Whitefish Convention and Visitors Bureau. I love partaking in challenging adventures, both physically and mentally.
Chris Terrell - I first moved out west to Jackson to be a ski bum in the winter of 2000 after college in North Carolina where I played NAIA soccer and obtained a degree in Outdoor Education. I try to ski the powder every chance I get, as long as work doesn’t get in the way. I moved to Whitefish in 2004, and I have established my roots in construction as licensed contractor and proudly own, Glacier Timberline Construction, Inc. I coach kids soccer for the Flathead Force and take great pride in working with these young athletes in an effort to bring them to the next level in the sport. How did we meet?
Erica - We met early in the ski season of 2005 in downtown Whitefish. A mutual friend introduced us and we discovered we were from the same suburb of Texas, Plano. His mom was actually an AP English teacher at my high school and her picture is in my yearbook. For about a week or so, I spotted him on the mountain a few times and nonchalantly attempted to hit the chair lift lines at the same time, but there was no way of that, he was a gazillion times better than I. Shortly thereafter, he asked me on our first date to Wasabi,
and we sat at the front counter (back when it was bright orange & green)…the counter is still the only place we prefer to sit when we dine there, must have been the beginning of our 9 year habit of always sitting at the bar/counter rather than a table at any and all restaurants. We both went home to Texas that holiday season, and before I could say, “hey mom, this is my ‘friend’ Chris from Montana,” he is shooting pool with my dad in our living room. Funny, how things moved so quickly off the bat… but it took us nearly 8 years to get engaged. It was worth the wait.
Proposal: Erica - It was Christmas Eve 2013, and Chris and I were finishing up a great morning of skiing before heading down to prepare for an evening of holiday cheers. Chris was adamant to take one last hike to ski a particular locals spot on Big Mountain, Flower Point. I was a bit hesitant due to a sore toe and dinner dishes to prepare, but I bucked up and went. After about 20 minutes and a toe nail later, I made it to the top where Chris was waiting anxiously. I don’t hike quite as fast as he does. He leaned in to give me a kiss...and I was quite thrown off, wondering, "What in the world is he up
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to?" We typically just catch our breath and getting going. Once he started to fumble in his ski pant pocket, I had tingles rush through my body and thought to myself "is this really happening?" Chris then took off his goggles, got down on one knee in the snow... and popped the question. My response "Of course I will." The ski run down was by far the best time of my life! For those of who know the thrill of first tracks in freshies on a pow day...well, take that and multiply by thousands, that's how I felt. Chris proved that the perfect powder conditions are not only great to ski but also set the ideal backdrop for and engagement ring and a profession of love.
What is Love? Erica – Love is the most spectacular thing. It is an accident that turns out to be the most wonderful thing in life. It is the element of your life journey together that keeps your soul alive. It is being safe with someone. Knowing they will be there for you through thick and thin and you for them. But most of all, love is that special feeling you get every time you hug, kiss or look into each other eyes... that you just don’t ever want to let go. Chris –Love is looking into that special persons eyes and getting lost into another
place and you do not care if you return to reality. Love is knowing that she forgives me for all of the dumb decisions that I make daily.
there for friends and family in bad and good times. Erica is a very beautiful woman who has grown into a very confident person over the years we have been together.
Chris –I love the way Erica is very passionate person that is willing to fight for whatever she wants. There is no way you can tell her that she can not do something, she will find a way to make it happen no matter the cost. Erica is a very caring person and is always
Chris –I knew that Erica was the one not long after we met; we both flew by the seat of our pants with no real game plan. If there was concert or party or someplace we wanted to go, we went for it. I had never found any other person that carefree like myself. I felt that we were a great match and maybe this is the crazy one. After tying the knot I know that this is still the crazy one I have loved for a long time.
What do you love most about each other? Erica – Everyday there is something new that makes me love Chris even more than the day before. But if I had to narrow it down then, aside from his baby blues, one of the biggest things I love about him is the commitment, pride and passion he takes in everything he does, from building a home for his clients, to coaching kids soccer to teaching me to ski and golf, to well… everything. His honesty and candor has given me a valuable outlook on life and has taught me how to truly make the best of every situation, the good – better and the bad – manageable. Not only do I love him with all my heart, he is my rock and my best friend. I look forward to waking up next to him for the rest of my life.
When did you know you were in love? Erica – I’ve am lucky enough to have shared in so many amazing memories with Chris over the past 9 years, that it is quite hard to really pick the exact moment when I knew I was in love. But an experience that comes to mind that is definitely up there was about 7 month after we met. We headed on a 9-hour road trip to Jackson Hole for a wedding. It was my first time to meet many of his ski buddies, and I fondly remember a moment where I did a little “stunt” and one of his pals said, “yep, that makes sense why you are dating Chris, you are made for each other.” And it was then I realized we are aren’t we?