After Annika and her roommate slept through their alarm and realized they had the wrong departure date... Annika and Jake finally arrived in Plymouth, NC for a mission trip they both signed up for through Campus Ministry at Grand Valley. They quickly connected over nursing school and their love for running.

After a long first day of work, in classic Jake fashion, Jake mentioned to the group that he wanted to go on a run, and Annika and Hanna decided to join him.

A monumental day: Jake taught Annika how to use a table saw and they quickly became a great team.

Last day in NC! We both came home feeling so blessed by the friendships we made with our team and the opportunity to serve in the Plymouth community. On the way home Jake told Annika we should find a time to run.

Annika and Jake's first run made it out of the group chat! They ran 3 miles in the rain.

Campus Ministry Reunion with our North Carolina team! After frequent texting and a few runs together, Jake drove Annika home this night, and still didn't ask her on a date, making Annika question if they were just "running buddies."

Another run! That still left Annika completely confused.

Annika asked Jake if he would help her with a long run to prepare for her half marathon the following month.

Jake invited Annika to a Griffins game with Sean and Kyle!

Jake invited Annika over to have lunch. While she was there Jake asked Annika, "what she wanted to be" and it was decided they would have an official date in a few weeks to make it "officially official."

Our first date! We went to Toasted Pickle and Kilwins, walked the Grand Haven Pier, and watched a Rosy Mound sunset.

Another first date picture :)

The sunset this night was unreal.

Jake met some of Annika's cousins for the first time.

On the way to Jake's graduation from the Kirkhof College of Nursing.

Jake is a GVSU graduate!

Annika ran a half marathon!

Jake met the Hurula family. He got the full run down from Mr. Hurula on lumber stenosis surgery (iykyk).

Jake ran his first 25K!!!!

Jake's first time at Piatt Lake!

We attended our first wedding together! One of many weddings we had this summer.

Sean and Ciera's wedding! SO much fun celebrating so many friends summer of 2023.

Another Quack House boy married!!!

Annika got to experience her first Berky (Berkenpas) Family get-together!

End of summer Reunion with the NC team! Best group ever!

Day adventure to the windy city.

Annika just so happened to have her clinical placement on Jake's floor this semester.

With Kyle and Anna at the Gala. These two have been such great friends to us over the past couple of years.

We had a pottery painting date and each made something for our future house! Take a guess at who added a Dutch flag to the serving spoon rest...

We redid our first pre-official date - a Griffins hockey game. We even wore the same outfits. All that was missing was Kyle and Sean.

One year of us!!! <3

Celebrated one year of Annika & Jake by redoing our first date.

Annika graduated from the Kirkhof College of Nursing.

Celebrated Annika's graduation with both of our families. It was so nice to have everyone together.

Jake and Annika pushed Annika's sister, Katelyn, in her first-ever race! We couldn't have done it without the help of Sarah, Rachel, and Lydia.

Post 20 mile run. Preparing for the Charlevoix Marathon.

We ran our first marathon in 4 hours 30 mins!

On the way to Jerad & Mahri's wedding! We love celebrating our friends.

Annika started working at Trinity Health. Cheers to matching in green scrubs!

Molly and Tanner are married! 2 more Quack House boys to go!

We love going through life with these friends.

Another night at Grand Haven! The best place!

Matching running shoes and shorts... #GOALS

Formed a new routine where one of us drives the other to their car in the morning. We don't take for granted how nice it is to work at the same place.

The best day ever!!! (captured by Micah Hill Photography!!!)

Annika has never jumped so high in her life

First stop as fiancés = Aldea Coffee for some matcha

Jake planned a family dinner at Logan's Roadhouse to celebrate. The Berkenpas Family now has a new shortest member of the family.

The Hurula family is officially looking taller.

Came back from dinner with our families and completed our first run as FIANCÉS :D

Our sweet friends Ellie and Naomi surprised us with the most thoughtful engagement party. We are SO blessed!