{March 29, 2024} It was Easter weekend, and although I (Bria) was living in Bismarck, ND, for college, I was in my hometown of Fargo for the holiday weekend and had planned to catch up with some friends over coffee. I got to Twenty Below Coffee a couple hours early so that I could work on some Bible study prep for a discipleship group I was a part of in Bismarck before my friends would arrive. When I walked into the coffee shop, there was a young man sitting near the wall. I thought to myself, "Hmm, I wonder what that guy is like... wouldn't it be so funny if we talked and something happened. Haha! Well just for fun, I might as well sit near him." It wasn't until 30 minutes or so had passed that I realized he was also studying his Bible too! (I would find out later he came to that coffee shop every week to meet with a friend and read Scripture together, but his friend was out of town for the weekend and forgot to tell him. Thanks for not showing up, Tyler. You're a real one!). Once I saw that he was reading Scripture and a devotional, it was then that I felt like I had to find a way to chit chat with this man. In a rare moment of courage, I leaned over and randomly said, "Oh... are you reading your Bible, too?" I expected us to maybe have a pleasant conversation that went nowhere, or to find out that we were definitely not a right match for each other in one way or another. However, over the next hour, we found out we had quite a lot in common, had several mutual friends, and we wanted to talk again. He asked me out and we met at 8am the next morning for waffles. I remember coming back to my family after that date and telling them, "That is a really good guy." A week later he came all the way to Bismarck just to see me for an afternoon. Since then, we have had a lot of weekend drives to visit each other, walks, meals and coffee, time with lots of family and friends, hours on the phone, and time getting to know each other more and more.

{May 4} Our first picture together ("I promise I was having a good time, the sun was just straight in my eyes so that's why I look like I'm in pain hahahaha" -Bria)

{August 2} First day back together after living 2500 miles apart for the summer!

{August 11} We tried making angel food cake and it did not turn out how we hoped haha. Gabe liked it though, and it is one of our funniest memories to look back on. If you ever come to our house in the future and we give you angel food cake, though... beware.

{August 31} A picnic and day off-roading south of Bismarck

{October 6} Pumpkin patch day

{October 21} Bria has taught Gabe some things...

{November 26} And Gabe has taught Bria some things too...

{February 5} Bria moved back to Fargo in January. We have enjoyed spending time together more often than just on weekends!

{April 11, 2025} Gabe asked me to go horse riding with him. Gabe is pretty good at riding, but this was about my second time ever doing it, so we spent the first 30-45 minutes helping me get better at stopping, turning, etc. Eventually, Gabe led me to another arena on the property that had a bunch of weird flat spots in the sand. I didn't think much of it because I don't really know anything about horses. "Maybe that's just how they like their sand," I thought to myself. I rode my horse in a circle around the whole thing, trotting on top of some of those big flat spots. I was about to do another lap when Gabe said, "Wade did such a good job grooming the arena today, don't you think?" I shrugged, "Yeah, I guess so." Then Gabe said, "Almost looks like something's maybe written in the middle of it..." I stopped my horse and looked at those weird flat spots again, this time realizing that Gabe had taken a skid steer and written "will you marry me" in big letters across the whole arena! I got all emotional and cried, said yes, and then we laughed at how I didn't see it spelled out until then haha. I was so surprised and felt so special!

We are so excited to be married and to have you celebrate with us!!!

xoxo,

Gabe and Bria