As most of you know, Jake and I both attended Atascadero High School for all four years. In high school, I was the quiet, studious, tennis and academically involved one who was an officer in almost every club available, while Jake was the popular, loud and outgoing prayer leader of the football team who was constantly surrounded by friends. To be honest, I found him cute but very annoying!

We shared several classes together through high school from Freshman to Senior year, and aside from a few conversations about video games, (more specifically Halo), we had little interaction. This was until senior year when I was *miraculously* accepted into ASB and we were set to be in the same group and table for the entire year. About half way through the year, after inviting me to swing dance at an open house ASB event, Jake began pursuing me (mind you I was 0% interested at this moment, but he was very sweet so it didn't bother me).

The next weekend, Jake invited me to a hike with his friends, and conveniently, the night before all of his friends just mysteriously dropped out! So weird! (Jake claims honestly that this was not a ploy, it was actually what happened). I accepted this invite reluctantly on the condition I could bring my dog, Vader, just to be sure there was no funny business. The "date" went great until Jake and I were sitting at MDO enjoying the sunset and he turned to tell me that he did not want to kiss another girl until he married her! I was very taken aback and immediately like "NOPE, not one of these types". After going home and telling my mom how weird he was and how I was never going to talk to him again, I gave Jake a ton of space the following weeks hoping he would get the message. As weird as it was, I actually started to feel sad when he would run an errand in ASB and I didn't come with him! Finally, I began to not totally reject date invites and we went on our first "official" date on April 2nd, 2014 to this church video awards thing. Afterwards he drove (like a maniac in his dad's convertible mustang) up to this hill where we both said we liked each other and then decided to start dating.

Fast forward a couple of months and we were coming back from our senior prom and we drove back to the little hill. Jake had a few days prior left a little Han Solo action figure in my car with a note that said "Will you be the Princess Leia....", I actually had been sitting on this since it got stuck in the back of my seat for a few days and didn't see it until the day of prom! Anyways, when we get there he pulled out a Princess Leia action figure that said, "to my Han Solo?". Haha it's so nerdy I know, but it was so sweet, we both love Star Wars and it was great! Also, a few weeks before we had cleaned out his room of his old Star Wars action figures so this wasn't like he just went out and bought new toys or something (that probably would have been a little more odd!). This is when we officially became official! *phew*

In college we both became involved in Cru as well as our own majors, and though we experienced some hiccups here and there, we still managed to find joy in each others company! The defining moment was after our 6 week trip missions to the MiddleEast where we faced a tremendous amount of stress, exhaustion and a multitude of trying circumstances, we still [props to God honestly] managed to be loving towards each other, the family, and make time for quality time and dates even when we wouldn't get to interact one-on-one for sometimes a week.

We are both so excited to take this next step together and continue this amazing adventure that God is laying before us! Thank you each and every one of the people that were pieces of this story of ours!