One of my earliest memories of interacting with Abby was a youth group boating event out on Flathead Lake. It was the summer between my 8th grade and freshman year of high school. After that, I remember very brief encounters between the two of us at church, most of which were because Abby was shadowing her older sister and my friend, Danni.

Jump forward to 2018, where I found myself working at the church helping run the youth groups and Sunday School. Abby was actually in Iceland on a trip the first time I verbally admitted to a buddy of mine that I thought I had a crush on this girl, who I knew very little about. What better way to break the ice and reach out to that tall, pretty, quiet girl than to ask her if she wanted to be a youth leader? She said no.

Despite my lack of persuasive skills, the door was opened and Abby and I started to build a friendship. (She did eventually become a leader for one of the youth groups). On October 24th, 2018, she and I hung out for the first time by walking the River Trail in Bigfork. Yeah, I had a crush on her right away. We became good friends and spent a lot of time together going to YWAM worship nights, grabbing a bite to eat from time to time, snowboarding together, and both being leaders in the youth group. Unfortunately, there was a season where I allowed our friendship to drift apart…

In 2020, I came back to my senses. I missed my friend. After inviting her on a group sunrise hike, we met for one of the best breakfasts I ever had. Why was it the best? Because on that day, Abby and I slowly but surely began to rebuild our friendship. And look at us now. Through young adult game nights and events, a backpacking trip into the wilderness, and some long, engaging conversations, we created some fun memories.

In September of that same year, I decided I was going to hike with Abby up Oberlin Peak in Glacier National Park. I had this grand idea of telling Abby that I had feelings for her on a mountain peak. That day, I learned that if you can’t see the peak because it’s completely socked in by clouds, maybe you shouldn’t attempt to climb it. It started out great but then the snow and wind decided to turn it up a few notches. When we crested a saddle, the wind almost took Abby off her feet. Sitting there huddled between boulders, I decided that my grand idea could be slightly altered so that I didn’t lead Abby to her death on the top of a mountain before I had the opportunity to ask her out. Later that day and out of the brutal wind and snow, on the shores of McDonald Lake, I shared my heart with Abby and put the ball in her court.

Fast forward to December. Abby and I were in Missoula doing some Christmas shopping. That evening, I asked her out on a date for dessert at Mackenzie River. She essentially told me it was about time.

I was and still am head over heels crazy about Abby. We dated for about 6 months before the long distance season of our relationship began. Danni, Abby, and I went on an epic road trip where we explored all 5 national parks in Utah before Abby started school. That's when I learned that singing in the car at 3am isn't generally appreciated by most people. In June 2021, we helped her move down to Billings (a 7 hour drive from Kalispell) and Abby’s long journey to become a PA began. That Billings drive and I became well acquainted over the next year and a half. Murphy (Abby’s English Springer Spaniel) would join me occasionally as my road trip buddy to go find our favorite girl wherever she was in Montana.

I was ready to marry Abby a year into dating if not sooner. Us both going to school, long distance, and Abby’s sound reasoning provided us the opportunity to allow our relationship to mature and become stronger with time. As we approached our third year of dating with Abby graduated and settling into her position in cardiology, I knew the time for me to pop the question was near at hand. The hunt for the perfect engagement ring had started back in January of 2023. By November, I had the ring and all I needed to do was pick the right place and time. Abby has always told me that she can read me like an open book. That being said, I really wanted to surprise her. Between October and February there were about 3 occasions where I almost asked her. You can read about the proposal a little lower on this page.

I will end my side of the story with this: Abby is my person, I love her like crazy, and I am so ready to marry her.