Jakes Version

Man, I remember seeing THE Caitlin Slaba on social media numerous times. Thinking this girl is out of this world who the heck is she. Something about her besides her beauty made me tell myself "I'd marry this girl."

Matching with her on Hinge made my heart drop. No match could match the feeling of this match. I remember being at work asking guys around me (maybe not the right guys to ask haha, but still had to voice my thoughts to someone) what the heck I should say?

I knew I couldn't waste any time after the initial match otherwise I'd get lost in the rolladex of matches she surely had gotten in a sea of unqualified men.

I will absolutely not go into the cheesiness of my "pick-up" lines but for some reason... She bit!

We matched a few days before February, 14th... Valentines Day. I asked her if she'd want to go to a play at the Old Town Theatre in Worthing, SD. What would we talk about on that 30 min drive?! I was beyond nervous but she accepted which was nuts. The question of "is this real? Is she a bot? Am I getting catfished?" had crossed my mind multiple times.... Thing is, that play was 2 weeks away from when I asked her. Again, I couldn't waste that much time, I couldn't allow our conversations over Hinge to get dry and have her lose interest and cancel. Our conversations were going so well, I said screw it and asked her to be my Valentine and if she'd be willing to have me take her out on Valentines Day. Another yes! Okok, she gotta be a bot.

Nevertheless she sent me her address and when I showed up to pick her up she was indeed real... but also unreal. I played it cool of course but My Lord she was beautiful.

Still the best date I've ever been on and me and her have had some really good ones together but nothing will top the joy of us falling for eachother. I do it every day. Even when she hates me I can't get enough.

Since that day we've never spent a day apart unless forced to because of work or whatever. So thankful.

God blessed me with such a great family and the Slaba's are the best too. The combo of Brooks and Slaba is too good to be true. Fun fact: Our grandparents are from Lake Andes and our grandpa's played on the same baseball team. Can't wait to start a family of our own.

Love you Caitlin

Caitlin's Version

I was in my living room at the time, sitting with my sister, Courtney, and soon to be brother -in- law, Travis Strong, when I announced that I was going to quit dating and just focus on my relationship with Jesus.

Expecting words of encouragement and support, Travis and Courtney instead met me with, “WAIT! Before you delete your dating apps can we play on them?!”

I reluctantly gave them my phone with the intention of deleting all dating apps that night after they got done “playing.” While they were reading through my inbox on the ever so romantic app, Hinge, Travis perked up and said, “What is Jake Brooks doing on this app??! He is so cool! You should go on a date with him!”

Since I had just declared that I was quitting dating, I was hesitant to agree, but I chose to trust Travis’ judgment and decided to message this guy, “Jake Brooks,” back.

Jake originally asked me out on a date that was a couple weeks away, but soon after his initial date proposal, I got a message from him asking me to go on a date with him on Valentines Day.

Needless to say I was a little nervous, so of course I did what any girl who was giving up on dating would do, I drank an entire bottle of $7 wine before he picked me up. (To this day he claims he had no idea I was tipsy, and for my ego’s sake I am going to believe him lol)

I was literally in awe of how cool, interesting, and HILARIOUS Jake was. Our date was basically me interviewing him by asking him questions that ranged from if he believed in Jesus, to if he wanted children someday. I still can’t believe he didn’t think I was crazy lol. The date was effortless and our morals and values aligned seamlessly, giving me butterflies for the first time in a long time. (I also remember looking at him and thinking he had veneers because his smile was literally the most perfect thing I had ever seen in my life.)

Since that day Jake and I have been inseparable and he has continued to amaze me with how kind, strong, patient and loyal he is.

Before meeting Jake I had written a letter to Jesus telling him exactly what I wanted in a husband. I wrote this on Oct 12, 2022 at 9:23 pm:

1. Christian - faith and getting to heaven are his first priorities

2.Loyal - I never question or have to question his loyalty to me

3. Successful and driven

4. Empathetic - he understands my feelings

5.Family- he loves my family and he loves his family- he wants a family with me and will give and support our children

6. Priorities- he puts Jesus first

7. Chivalry- he treats me like a woman

8. Handsome- he has dark hair- he is strong - he takes care of himself because he loves his body the way Jesus loves him.

9. Values -he values me as a woman and sees me as the mother of his children- he values my thoughts and opinions and he values what I bring to the world as much as what he brings to the world

10. Conflict - He is calm and he is quiet but he is strong and he is the rock God needed me to have

Jake is my legitimate answered prayer, and the thought of that still humbles me.

I prayed for Jake my entire life, and I still can’t believe Jesus trusted me to be his wife, and now the mother of our son.

To know Jake is to love him, and to love him is an honor.