It’s been seven years since their story began. It started in College at OSU in 2017. It was April and Todd’s first term In Corvallis. Both just got out of long relationships and didn’t want another heartbreak. Both are in the same Climate Science class at 8:30 in the morning not wanting to take the class, but needing the prerequisites.

It wasn’t long for both to realize there was something about the other. For Todd, it was how April smiled at him sipping from a water fountain outside of class. For April, it was his intelligence and his laugh. Both were always on time, they were early to almost every class. April and Todd remember the day when he commented to April about the word Hella. It was the first official words that were said between them. It sounds funny, but a simple comment regarding a silly slang word created something much bigger. However, neither of them knew what was going to happen next.

A couple of weeks went by, each observing the other. Both felt like it was love at first sight, although both were still very hesitant. It was a lab class when each other were discussing an assignment “April helping Todd and his group with a simple Albedo lab”, when something else happened. Todd will tell you April waited for Todd to walk out of class to his car, while April will tell you that she was simply walking slowly to her car.

Either way they met at the stop light, and started the first real conversation. April talked about her college experiences in Hawaii, Todd mentioned he’d been there and like to visit there. They both talked about rainbows over the ocean and sunny beaches. Both were attracted to each other but hesitant because of past relationships and both thought the other was too young for them. After age was discussed, both were content enough to progress further. As they walked to their car they both chuckled about the fact they were both too cheap to pay for parking they both parked right next to each other.

They exchanged numbers, April drove away, and Todd fist-pumped the air with excitement, April noticed and thought it was super cute. Todd immediately called his brother to tell him about this new girl that blew him off his feet. It took Todd a couple of days to text her, and the first text was a picture of a rainbow. He felt this was the best way to continue the conversation from the walk to the car. That rainbow picture was all it took for the conversations to start and never end.

It was then time for the first date, they decided to meet up at the library and go for a walk around the campus and talk more in person. Todd was early and nervous, he got a coffee and waited on the bench for April to arrive. April saw Todd on the bench and let out the biggest most beautiful smile that Todd had ever seen. Todd stood up nervously and waited to greet April, but when April locked eyes with Todd, she made the decision that she wasn’t going to play any games and gave him a big kiss. Todd was surprised and relieved that he didn’t have to worry about all the uncomfortable and awkward moments when you first start a relationship. They then both walked to the park where they both parked to go to school and made out on the bench like some high schoolers for a couple of hours.

It wasn’t long before our teacher knew we were dating, April wouldn’t let Todd sit alone anymore, so they both sat right next to each other in the front row for the rest of the term. Both remember the teacher saying “I don’t know if I like this”, they both laughed and smiled at the teacher. Dr. Allen was supportive though, maybe not at first but I think even she knew that they were good together.

They made it through college both graduating with honors in their respective fields. Later they moved in together and spent Covid together. Todd taught April about the forests and plants and April taught Todd about the clouds and severe weather, mostly her love for Tornadoes.

They both continue to grow their relationship, knowledge of each other passions, knowledge of one another and themselves, and knowledge of each other’s dreams and ambitions.

Both support the other, even if one another is having a tough day. Although April holds it more together most of the time, Todd is there when she needs him to be.

They are now getting married, looking for a home to call their own, and planning on raising a child someday. Both working in the field they wanted to be in after college. Both are patient enough to know what they want and work hard enough to get what they want. It took 30 years and many broken hearts, but they both love each other more than words, more than math, or more than nature can describe. They both found the end of the rainbow and the pot of gold was one another!

Thanks so much for reading our story and coming to our celebration. We are so pleased to have our friends and family Celebrate US!

Love,

April & Todd